A talk on a famous poet born in the county will take place to aid the maintenance of a green space in west Dorset.

The talk will be about William Barnes, a Dorset born dialect poet who wrote many of his works in the local parlance of the county.

Barbra Willock will be hosting the talk.

Taking place at the Women’s Institute Hall on North Street in Bridport, the talk is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 16 at 2.30pm.   

Born in the Blackmore Vale in 1801, Barnes attended school in Sturminster Newton.

A passion for linguistics saw Barnes become fluent in Greek, Latin, French, Hebrew, Italian, Russian, Welsh and Cornish. It is believed that he wrote around 800 poems in his lifetime before his death in 1886, aged 85.

Money raised from the talk will go directly to fund the maintenance of the Bridport Millennium Green project. There will also be a raffle to raise money for the charitable trust.

The green provides an open space in the heart of Bridport, based at the pleasure grounds and parkland of Georgian Downe Hall off Rax Lane. It covers views to the coast and West Bay.

Tickets for the event are £5, or £4 if you’re a member of the Friends of Bridport Millennium Green group. Tea and biscuits are include.