The Lincolnshire flag

At last I could get out of the house after lockdown.  After a house call to collect two clocks for repair and dropping off quite a few repaired clocks at the shop, I went for a much missed walk. I spotted the Lincolnshire flag flying. The red cross represents England, borrowing from the Saint George’s Cross which has been associated with the country since the 13th century. The fleur de lys is the symbol of the City of Lincoln, featured on its Coat of Arms and emblazoned across the city. This relationship derives from the Diocese of Lincoln: the fleur-de-lis is the symbol for St. Mary, patron saint of the city and Lincoln Cathedral. Lincolnshire produces 12% of the UK’s food, and food and farming is the biggest economic industry in the county. Therefore, yellow represents the variety of crops grown in the county. A second reason for yellow is the nickname “Yellowbellies” given to people born and bred in Lincolnshire. The blue parts of the background represents both the sea of the East coast and the ‘big skies’ across the county. The Lincolnshire coast is responsible for 70% of the UK’s fish, and boasts a range of stunning natural coastline as well as several seaside resorts. The county’s mostly flat topography means that there are often beautiful landscapes of blue skies to enjoy. The flat land and big skies also give a reason behind the county’s aviation heritage: the perfect environment for runways and air traffic control. The trails of the Red Arrows are often seen. The green background symbolises the fields of the Lincolnshire Wolds and the Fens. The county is known for its beautiful landscapes - of big skies but also rolling hills.