Petersfield Museum and The Edward Thomas Fellowship are to host an inaugural Edward Thomas Literary Festival.

The three-day event expands and explores the life of the poet, his literary work, how he inspired others, his love of nature, and his sense of place and belonging.

Those taking part include renowned poets, writers, and academics such as Kathryn Bevis, Jessica Mookherjee, Yvonne Reddick, Ben Clark, Sasha Dugdale, Sir Andrew Motion, Daljit Nagra, and Ellora Sutton.

As well as events centred around the museum and its Edward Thomas Study Centre, there will also be guided walks that take in local views and places dear to Thomas.

These will take in the lanes and by-ways of his home village of Steep, walking the paths and other routes taken by him one hundred and ten years ago.

Steep, along with Froxfield, at the foot and the top of the East Hampshire hangers, had a special place in his life.

From 1906 to 1916 he and his family had three homes there, the longest time he stayed in any district.

It was also when he produced most of his prose and collected most of his impressions that went into his poetry.

And one walk will climb to the Edward Thomas Memorial Stone on the Shoulder of Mutton Hill.

Lord Horder of Ashford Chace owned the land where the stone was erected, and he dedicated the hillside in perpetuity to Thomas.

An informal unveiling of the stone by Lord Horder took place at 2.30pm on Saturday, October 2, 1937, with an address by the Poet Laureate John Masefield.

Edward Thomas was a writer, poet, critic, and biographer who is best known for his careful depictions of rural England.

His poetry was written during the last two years of his life before he was killed on April 9, 1917, during the First World War at the Battle of Arras.

For details about the festival from October 6 to 9 and to book tickets visit the website at https://www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk/ or contact the museum on 01730 262601.