YOU’LL?be extremely well versed if you are out and about in Petersfield and Steep this week as the inaugural South Downs Poetry Festival comes to town.

It is a great chance to unleash your inner bard at a host of events including readings, workshops, pub gigs and more.

The programme is:

Thursday, July 21

4.30pm to 5.45pm – a burst of quick fire verse by The Poet Bike Tour at The White Hart pub in South Harting. Free. Followed by poetry in The Square, Petersfield.

8pm to 11pm – poetry in the pub garden at The Harrow, Steep, by five poets and musicians.

Friday, July 22

10am to noon – poetry making for all the family with the Poetry Bike Tour at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Free.

2pm to 4pm – poetry workshop in Steep Village Hall.

7pm to 10pm – poetry readings in Steep Village Hall.

Saturday, July 23

10am to noon – workshops at Petersfield Library and the Festival Hall.

Day’s events at Festival Hall.

2pm to 4pm –?workshops.

Noon – readings.

From 12.30pm –?winners of this year’s Havant Open Poetry competition, plus masterclass in slam-style poetry.

2pm – Desert Island Poems.

4pm – A Vision of Piers Plowman

6pm – Rhymes with Orange

7pm – readings

10pm to late –?Late Show

Sunday, July 24

9am – Poets at One Tree Books, Petersfield.

10am to noon – Wendy Klein at One Tree Books; Hugh Dunkerley at Wintown House Centre, Petersfield.

2pm to 4pm –?workshops and readings at St Peter’s Parish Hall and Winton House, Petersfield.

10am to 12.30pm –?Downland Poets of the Great War, St Peter’s Parish Hall, Petersfield.

From 12.30pm –?reading and open mic in garden at Winton House.

1pm to 2.30pm –?Voices from the Great War at Petersfield Museum.