VISITORS to Dymock this month can potter along paths known to poets, as part of the village's celebrated daffodil weekend.

It is sure sign that spring when people flock to Dymock, close to Ledbury, to see daffodils that once moved poets into verse and cheered up patients in London and Birmingham hospitals.

Dymock's annual Spring Fayre and Daffodil Weekend will take place this year on Saturday, March 29 and the following day.

Highlights will be stalls in the village hall and guided walks to the wild daffodil fields. Many walkers will be using informative maps drawn up by local artist Barbara Davis, a member of the Friends of the Dymock Poets.

The route of the walks would have been well-known to the celebrated Dymock Poets, who lived in the Dymock area, or visited often, prior to the outbreak of the First World War.

Members included Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas and the American literary giant, Robert Frost.

Poets' Path Potters will take place on Sunday, March 30 in Dymock with a choice of 8 miles, 16 miles or a marathon of 26 miles for runners and walkers.

All the routes will start at St Mary's church, at 9am.

But the event headquarters for the potters will be Dymock Cricket Club where entries on the day will be possible.

Proceeds from these walks will be split between The Dymock Parochial Church Council, Gloucester County Council Public Rights of Way and Sport for Good.

Daffodils really put Dymock on the map a century ago.

The long defunct daffodil line used to take the annual crop of wild daffodils by train to hospitals in London and Birmingham.

Now the wild flowers are for viewing, not picking.

So-called daffodil teas, to celebrate the local spectacle, are now being served in St Mary's church every day until Friday April 18 from 11 am until 4pm each day.

On the Daffodil Weekend itself, teas will be served in Dymock Parish Hall. Ploughman's lunches can be provided by prior arrangement on 01531 890676.