LEDBURY Poetry Festival was cancelled due to Covid in 2020; but it will happen this summer; and that, say the organisers, “is something to celebrate”.

The dates are set for July 2 to July 11, and it will be a landmark event too, with the Festival marking its 25th anniversary.

But it will also be a “hybrid” event, with some events live and others online.

Chloe Garner, the Festival’s artistic director said: “ This summer our glasses will be bubbling over with all things poetry! Savouring poems and a picnic in the Walled Garden, doing a writing workshop in the newly decorated Barrett Browning Building, or listening to an inspiring conversation in the comfort of home, everyone will be able to experience a range of events and poets and enjoy the celebration!

She added: “The 25th Ledbury Poetry Festival will take place and that is certainly something to celebrate! While Boris Johnson’s statement about the easing of Lockdown is optimistic, a cautious approach still seems the best way forward. For this reason we are planning a hybrid Festival that will blend online and physical events.”

Ms Garner added: “The physical events will offer our community opportunities to gather and enjoy poetry though writing, discussion, listening and performance opportunities.

“Expect our trademark eclectic variety: poetry breakfasts, writing-walking workshops, music, exhibitions and bike rides! Smaller events and outdoor events, will give us a chance to bring the Festival to some of the gorgeous landscapes and places in this region. International events will happen online, including the transatlantic conversations between UK and American poets that were such a huge success at our first ever online Festival in 2020 and will bring poets together to explore topics that matter.”

Full programme details are still to be announced.

The Ledbury Poetry Festival is widely regarded as the biggest and best poetry festival in the UK.

It regularly attracts major names from the literary world, showbiz and the national media.

The include the present Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, the previous Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, the novelist Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale, and the Monty Python star, TV presenter and national institution, Michael Palin.