Flag of Exmoor
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Exmoor
| Article =
| Type =
| Image = Exmoor Flag.svg
| Use =
| Symbol =
| Proportion = 3:5
| Adoption = 29 October 2014
| Design =
| Designer = Jenny Stevens
}}
The Exmoor flag is the flag of the moorland area of Exmoor, in west Somerset and north Devon. It was registered with the Flag Institute as a regional flag on 29 October 2014.
Design
The stag's head stands for the moorland's iconic wildlife, particularly its red deer. The star symbolises Exmoor National Park's status as Europe's first designated International Dark Sky Reserve, awarded in 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-15651033 |title=Exmoor National Park is Europe's first dark sky reserve |author=Andrew Plant |date=9 November 2011 |work=BBC News |access-date=6 March 2024}} The dark blue field is for both the sky and sea. The wavy lines of white, purple and green represent Exmoor as a place where the sea meets cliffs, moorland and forests, as well as the region's many footpaths.{{cite web |url=https://exmoorflag.co.uk/exmoor-flag-story/ |title=Exmoor Flag Story |author= |date= |work=Exmoor Flag |access-date=6 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/flags/exmoor-flag/ |title=Exmoor |work=The Flag Institute |access-date=6 March 2024}}
The Pantone colours for the flag are:
- {{legend|#0033A0|Blue 286}}
- {{legend|#ffffff|White}}
- {{legend|#8C4799|Purple 258}}
- {{legend|#00843D|Green 348}}
Competition
In 2014, it was announced that a competition to create an official flag for Exmoor would be held, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Exmoor National Park in 1954. The competition was launched on 16 June 2014, and ran until 21 July.{{cite web |url=https://exmoorflag.co.uk/bbc-radio-interviews/ |title=BBC Radio Somerset and BBC Radio Two - Exmoor Flag Competition Launch |author=Julie Christian |date=16 June 2014 |work=Exmoor Flag |access-date=6 March 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/11303735.exmoor-flag-design-competition-launched/ |title=Exmoor Flag design competition launched |author= |date=28 June 2014 |work=Somerset County Gazette |access-date=6 March 2024}} In total, 261 designs were submitted for the competition, with some entries coming from as far afield as Australia and the United States.{{cite web |url=https://exmoorflag.co.uk/exmoor-flag-story/ |title=Exmoor Flag Story |author= |date= |work=Exmoor Flag |access-date=6 March 2024}}
A panel of eight judges reviewed the proposals before ultimately selecting a shortlist of five (in a divergence from the original plan to end the competition with four finalists),{{cite web |url=https://www.visitsouthmolton.co.uk/exmoor-flag-competition/ |title=Exmoor Flag Competition - It's time to get creative! |author= |date=16 June 2014 |work=Visit South Molton |access-date=6 March 2024}} which were put to a public vote on 20 August 2014, with voting remaining open until 10 September.{{cite web |url=https://www.exmoormagazine.co.uk/exmoor-flag-finalists-announced-can-vote-now/ |title=Exmoor Flag finalists announced: You can vote now |author=Naomi Cudmore |date=20 August 2014 |work=Exmoor Magazine |access-date=6 March 2024}} 858 votes were cast in total.{{cite web |url=https://exmoorflag.co.uk/exmoor-flag-story/ |title=Exmoor Flag Story |author= |date= |work=Exmoor Flag |access-date=6 March 2024}}
The winning design was unveiled on 29 October, at a ceremony at Minehead railway station. The designer was London resident Jenny Stevens.{{cite web |url=https://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/new-exmoor-flag-unfurled |title=New Exmoor Flag Unfurled |author= |date= 15 October 2014|work=Visit Exmoor |access-date=6 March 2024}}
=Finalists=
Proposed flag of Exmoor (2014) - Design A.svg|Design A: Jamie Loudon{{cite web |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/11456111.exmoor-flag-competition-unfurls/ |title=Exmoor Flag competition unfurls |author= |date=5 September 2014 |work=Somerset County Gazette |access-date=14 March 2024}}
Proposed flag of Exmoor (2014) - Design B.svg|Design B: Martin Shoots{{cite web |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/11456111.exmoor-flag-competition-unfurls/ |title=Exmoor Flag competition unfurls |author= |date=5 September 2014 |work=Somerset County Gazette |access-date=14 March 2024}}
Proposed flag of Exmoor (2014) - Design C.svg|Design C: Kathryn Roseveare{{cite web |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/11456111.exmoor-flag-competition-unfurls/ |title=Exmoor Flag competition unfurls |author= |date=5 September 2014 |work=Somerset County Gazette |access-date=14 March 2024}}
Proposed flag of Exmoor (2014) - Design D.svg|Design D: Kevin Sandiford{{cite web |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/11456111.exmoor-flag-competition-unfurls/ |title=Exmoor Flag competition unfurls |author= |date=5 September 2014 |work=Somerset County Gazette |access-date=14 March 2024}}
Exmoor Flag.svg|Design E: Jenny Stevens
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://exmoorflag.co.uk/ Exmoor Flag]
- [{{Flag Institute|Exmoor}} Flag Institute – Exmoor]
{{Subnational flags of the United Kingdom}}