MARCH 23, 2025 — Efforts to secure official recognition for a flag of the Fens in England, have received renewed support, with local councils and communities rallying behind the initiative.
According to the BBC, Peterborough City Council recently agreed to write to the Flag Institute, urging it to add the flag to its registry. The flag’s designer, historian Peter James Bowman, has been campaigning for recognition since 2018, and described the council’s backing as a “huge result” and hopes it will bolster broader institutional support.
East Cambridgeshire District Council, South Holland District Council, and several MPs have also voiced their approval, though Fenland District Council remains hesitant.
According to the meeting minutes, Fenland District Council members hesitated to support the flag proposal due to procedural and substantive concerns. Several, including Councillor Dee Laws, questioned its necessity, pointing to existing symbols like the Fenland District Council insignia.
Others, like Councillors Steve Tierney and Alan Gowler, acknowledged the idea’s potential but emphasized the need for broader community consultation, possibly through public voting or competitions, rather than relying on an individual’s design.
Some were unclear about whether the flag aimed to represent Fenland specifically or the wider Fens region, raising jurisdictional concerns. While a few appreciated the sentiment behind the proposal, most were reluctant to proceed without stronger evidence of public backing.
Bowman’s campaign to secure official recognition has included outreach to local communities. He recently visited Hickathrift House Care Home in Wisbech, says the Wisbech Standard, where residents and staff listened to his presentation on the flag’s history.
Paula Melerski, general manager at Hickathrift House, praised the visit as “very educational,” noting that learning about the flag deepened residents’ connection to the region. One resident, Barrie, reflected on how the talk helped him understand the Fens better, saying, “I feel very proud to support James and the flag.”
Bowman believes that official recognition from the Flag Institute would encourage more councils and organizations to adopt the flag, further strengthening its symbolic importance. His next steps involve approaching parish councils to gather additional political support.
“It’s really resonated with people,” Bowman said.
The flag, designed by Bowman in 2016, features a red heraldic tiger, symbolizing local resistance, on a yellow stripe flanked by blue stripes representing Fenland’s waterways.
The Fen Tiger, the central emblem of the flag, has historical significance dating back to the fierce opposition locals showed toward land drainage projects in the 17th century. Over time, it evolved into a nickname for the area’s residents.
Bowman explained that the flag’s colors were chosen to reflect the region’s agricultural prosperity and waterways, both of which are integral to its identity.
Image: Facebook
