Yes, John Clare (1793 - 1864)is undoubtedly the most famous poet of the 'Fenland edge'(if you travel from Peterborough to Lincoln, on the present A15, the land to the left tends to show a slight elevation - "the hills of Helpston" - and the land to the right is Fenland - as flat as a pancake). Clare was also a self taught naturalist and a very early folk song collector, and apparently both of his parents were singers. His work on folk song is described in George Deacon's book, 'John Clare and the Folk Tradition'. Nevertheless, his collection mainly consists of 'standard' English folk songs with little, if any, specifically local material.

Gordon Tyrrall has set some of Clare's poems to music (see his CD, 'A Distance from the Town' Fellside FECD129). Others have attempted this as well - with varying success.

The John Clare Society is a very active literary society and you can find out more on their website (I haven't got the link to hand at the moment - but you can Google it). The Society holds a festival in Helpston every year on the weekend closest to Clare's birthday (July 13th) and I have been attending it since 1982. Peterborough Morris always dance at the festival and there are usually folk related events and singarounds.