MARSDEN’S set to go cuckoo once again.

The Marsden Cuckoo day is back – and it’s set to be bigger and better this year. The organisers have now rebranded the event as The Marsden Cuckoo Festival and has events running from Friday through to Sunday with many new attractions.

They include the use of Marsden’s park for pony rides, theatre and dance as well as old favourites including the Grand Cuckoo Procession led by Marsden Silver Prize band and the Duck Race on Saturday.

Marsden Cuckoo Festival has been a tradition within Marsden for many years.

It was claimed that many years ago the people of Marsden were aware that when the cuckoo arrived so did the spring and sunshine.

They tried to prolong its stay by building a wall around it.

Unfortunately the wall wasn’t high enough.

The Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Julie Stewart-Turner will be there on Saturday for the Grand Cuckoo Procession.

This year’s wheelbarrow float theme is “Endangered Species of the British Isles”, chosen as the cuckoo has recently been added to the RSPB “Red List” which means it is now classified as an endangered species.

Marie Kerr, who chairs the organising committee, said: “We’d like to use this year’s procession to highlight birds, mammals and other species that are in danger of disappearing from the British Isles.

“Each year the National Trust has supported Cuckoo Day by helping the local school children prepare for Cuckoo Day. The National Trust has been working with all classes in Marsden Junior School and in Marsden Infant & Nursery School to design and construct wheel barrow floats for this year’s parade.”

For full details see the festival website www.cuckoofestival.co.uk