Who is not stirred by shimmering bluebells in a springtime wood, pink carpets of thrift on wave splashed rock, or noble irises beside an ancient fen? To commemorate HM The Queen's Golden Jubilee, and in celebration of the natural beauty to be found in every part of the UK, Plantlife is helping each county and metropolitan area choose its own wild flower emblem, if it does not already have one.
Our wild flowers give an area its character and sense of place. Flowers special to a locality identify and reflect its particular character. Who is not stirred by shimmering bluebells in a springtime wood, pink carpets of thrift on wave splashed rock, or noble irises beside an ancient fen?
Through wide consultation, involving all who wish to participate, Plantlife is co-ordinating a democratic process to choose a wild flower that represents a natural facet of each county's personality. Symbolising our living heritage, County Flowers will reflect the particular identity of each part of the United Kingdom.
The approach echoes the USA where early last century each state chose a flower. The Californian poppy and the Texas Bluebonnet are well known examples. Canada has also chosen flowers for her provinces, and Sweden for her counties.
Under the Presidency of Prof. David Bellamy, Plantlife's President, and the Chairmanship of Philip Mould, Plantlife's Vice Chairman and the Chairman of its National Wildflower Committee, Plantlife is forming partnerships with local people, authorities, associations, groups and companies around the UK.
Anyone can join in: individuals, local and national groups, associations and authorities, boards, trusts, companies and the media. 
Plantlife is suggesting wild flowers indigenous to each county, or representative of each metropolitan area of the UK. Everyone is asked to think about which wild flower from the selection best symbolises the area where they live. People can make additional suggestions of other wild flowers, too. Voting can be by post or on the internet, using the Plantlife web site: www.plantlife.org.uk
After all votes are received for the peoples favourites, which must be cast before December 1st 2002, Plantlife's National Wildflower Committee will assess the results and publish the final selection, based on the popular choices, in February 2003.
Additionally, County Flowers is linked to Plantlife's Common Plants Survey, the annual survey of 58 of Britain's most common and evocative plants carried out by Plantlife members and the general public. 
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