With a new poet laureate soon to be announced – Andrew Motion, the incumbent for the past decade, stands down in May – talk in West Country Druidic circles is that bardic and laureate traditions could be merged, even with the new laureate one day being selected from the Druidic movement.

This appealing idea comes from Mark Lindsey-Earley, the Grand Bard of Exeter, who points out that the bardic and laureate roles have a common origin, in that the term "bardic chair" originates from the seat reserved for a court poet or bard, which is really what a laureate is.

"As the Queen is herself an initiated bard, being patron of the Welsh National Eisteddfod, royalty and bardism remain closely connected," he told me.

Revival of bardic chairs has been initiated by modern-day Druids, the most successful being Bath and Glastonbury, although more are being brought back each year. Mark, a former Bard of Bath who now lives at Denbury, South Devon, reclaimed Exeter in 2003.

Based on records dating back to the 18th century, Exeter is one of about 30 ancient locations with the right to elect a bard each year, and Mark is planning a gorsedd, or assembly of bards and Druids, in the city in May to coincide with the advent of the new laureate. Mark has often described the bard as a local poet laureate, and his ideas are apt because, for the first time, the public are being consulted about who the new laureate should be.

Although the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says there will be no official public vote, it seems the next laureate will be a more obviously populist choice than Andrew Motion, who was the first laureate to be appointed for a fixed term of 10 years.

"It would be an excellent time for the two elements of effectively the same tradition to reunite, especially as the bardic tradition which Exeter, Bath, Glastonbury and other centres are associated with, is part of a very English strand of the movement," said Mark. "As Scotland, Wales and Cornwall have all enjoyed a rather delightful recent cultural renai- ssance and, apart from the latter, a restoration of some political autonomy, I think it's time for us to redefine our positive sense of Englishness, one that doesn't revolve entirely around football or have any racist associations.

"The Druidic and bardic move- ments are excellent examples of relishing a sense of love for our homeland and nationhood without being in the least bit nationalistic."

After all, England is the land of Stonehenge, bringing in another royal link – an ancient royal charter giving permission for an annual fayre to be held there.

Recently, a petition was sent to the Queen asking for this to be reinstated as a forum for a new English National Eisteddfod where the various chaired bards would compete to become Bard of England.

"Maybe this might be how future laureates are selected, not just from the English Eisteddfod but from similar movements right across the Commonwealth, perhaps with each taking it's turn to elect a new laureate from among its ranks," Mark added.

He points to the excellent poetic talent which has been emerging from the bardic movement in recent years, with more than a few suitable candidates for laureateship now "waiting in the bardic wings".

Hear more about the bardic tradition from Mark Lindsey-Earley on my Mysterious West podcast. Listen at www.westerndailypress.co.uk/mysteriouswest