THE Friends of Coleridge are celebrating the bicentenary of the publication in 1816 of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s visionary poem ‘Kubla Khan’.

Coleridge lived in Nether Stowey and wrote his most famous poems while he was in Somerset and there will be a whole host of events to celebrate this anniversary.

There will be a competition to create a poem inspired by ‘Kubla Khan’ under the theme ‘Imagined Worlds’.

There are two categories, one for adults and one for poets aged 10 to 17 with a £500 first prize, and two of £200 for the runners-up.

The closing date for entries is August 31 and entry forms are available from www.friendsofcoleridge.com.

Artists are being asked to create paintings based on 'Kubla Kahn' for an exhibition touring Taunton, Bath and Nether Stowey, more information is available at www.somersetartworks.org.uk.

Join Coleridge enthusiasts on a free guided tour of Nether Stowey where the poet lived, with readings and historical information from the guides. There are two dates, August 13 and August 27, with a 2pm start. Meet outside Coleridge Cottage.

On Saturday, November 12 at 11am you can join a group of walkers to explore the country around Holford where the Wordsworths rented a country house, Alfoxden.

It was here that Coleridge and Wordsworth discussed their poetry and the Romantic Movement was born. Meet at the Bowling Green car park, Holford. Email sandrasidaway@hotmail.com

The Museum of Somerset, Taunton Castle is hosting a talk on ‘Kubla Khan’ by the acclaimed Coleridge scholar and lecturer Seamus Perry on October 13 at 7.30pm.

‘Strangers in Somerset’ is an evening of poetry hosted by poets Liz Cashdan and Ian Enters at Nether Stowey Library on September 14 at 7.30pm. Entry at the door £3.50.

A short film on Coleridge’s ‘Kubla Khan’, with the poem read by various voices, will be created at the Engine Room in Bridgwater, a street away from where Coleridge preached in the town’s Unitarian chapel.