![[Flag of Exmoor National Park, Devon]](../images/g/gb-eexnp.gif)
Last modified: 2014-11-22 by rob raeside
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image located by Esteban Rivera, 8 November 2014
The Flag Institute has announced the creation of the Exmoor National Park flag.
"The much anticipated Exmoor Flag has been announced at a unique historic
ceremony at the West Somerset Railway Station in Minehead. The new Exmoor Flag
rumbled down the track blazoned on a majestic steam locomotive to much fanfare
and flag waving.
The winner of the competition to create the official
flag for Exmoor is Jenny Stevens with ‘Flag E’. The creation of the flag for
Exmoor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exmoor)
has been planned to coincide with the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the
Exmoor National Park, and Exmoor will be the only area encompassing a national
park to have its very own flag!
Jenny’s rationale explains her thoughts
behind her creation “The flag tells a story of Exmoor’s varied terrain – sea
meets river meets cliff path meets moorland meets forest meets wildlife.”
Jenny’s flag design (http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/exmoorjpg-300x177.jpg)
was one of 5 finalists’ (http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/exmoor2-300x225.jpg)
chosen by a panel which included Philip Tibbetts, Community Vexillologist at The
Flag Institute, who expertly guided the judges through the shortlisting process.
261 designs were received from all over the world as far away as Australia and
America, from community groups and schools to individuals as young as 2 and as
old at 93.
Philip Tibbetts commented:
“It is very pleasing to see how
the competition has been heartily backed by the community across the region.
Through the dedication of the organisers to get the best quality designs, the
corporate supporters that have given the flag a joyous launch today, to the
multitude of people who had the enthusiasm and creativity to think up designs –
which lead to a strong set of finalists and of course a strong registered flag.
Exmoor can now represent its pride in the unique local culture and environment
which in turn is part of the patchwork that makes up our national identity”.
Jenny, who lives in London with her young family, first fell in love with
Exmoor as a child on a school trip and the whole family has a passion for flags
so it was an opportunity she couldn’t miss. Her bold and simple design clearly
struck a chord with the public as it received 41% of the vote. 858 members of
the public voted for their favourite flag design, with 446 votes cast online and
412 received in the post.
As well as the honour of going down in history
as being the designer of Exmoor’s new flag, Johnny Kingdom the wildlife
photographer, presented Jenny with the amazing prize of the very first Exmoor
Flag, hand made in Exford by Robin Ashburner ex-President of the Flag Institute.
In addition Jenny received a beautiful wicker hamper especially made by Paul
Tuck of Exmoor Baskets & Hurdles, overflowing with Exmoor produce, products and
vouchers for shops, visitor attractions and restaurants, along with a day out
with an Exmoor National Park Ranger and a year’s subscription to the Exmoor
Magazine. The prizes were all kindly donated by local businesses keen to support
and embrace Exmoor’s new flag.
And in recognition of their huge
achievement of being selected from hundreds of entries, the 5 finalists Jamie
Loudon (Flag A), Martin Shoots (Flag B), Kathryn Roseveare (Flag C) and Kevin Sandiford (Flag D) and Jenny Stephens (Flag
E) were all presented with a book of ‘British Flags & Emblems’, a case of Golden
Ale donated by Exmoor Ales and their very own flag design beautifully reproduced
by James Guscott of Active Signs (who has a love of flags having been a runner
up in the Somerset flag competition last year)."
Source:
http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/2014/10/new-exmoor-flag-announced/
For additional information go to: Exmoor National Park (official website)
http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/
Esteban Rivera, 8 November
2014
