What is Britain's most symbolic species

[Earthwatcher]

As you may know, there's to be a debate about what should be considered Britain's most symbolic species. Earthwatch, the debate organiser has lined up five in the debate: bumblebees, bluebells, the song thrush, deep sea coral and the great English oak.

Of that bunch I would probably opt for the English Oak (had the Tory Party not snuck in first) as a mascot with possibly the bumblebee second and bluebell third. On the other hand I think there should be other contenders - the robin, the wild rose and the brown trout all come to mind. What do you think? Any ideas?

[Wild-Woman]

Badger for me.

[healfdan]

The Yew, the Red Deer and to save it from further persecution the Badger.

[stigofthedump]

Grey seal for me.


Vince

[Cowgirl]

I read the article, oh yeah, the Great English Oak as a symbol of Britain? The Welsh & the Scots will love that one

Even if it's name was just British Oak it still doesn't fit. If you think of Scotland for example you think more of native firs so the oak isn't really a representative symbol there is it (can't speak for Wales)?

So to properly fulfil the criteria, you would have to think of something that more or less everywhere in Britain has & it isn't more one country than another.

For me it would have to be the cheeky chappie robin or maybe badgers.

[Dorts]

For me it has to be the Bluebell.
Nowhere will you see so many woodlands carpeted in so many Bluebells other than here in Britain.
You can find Badgers and Oaks and Robins and Red Deer and Seals everywhere in Europe, but not the Bluebell as you do here.
Dorts.

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by Dorts

For me it has to be the Bluebell.
Nowhere will you see so many woodlands carpeted in so many Bluebells other than here in Britain.
Dorts.

Yep, Bluebell for me too

[Spectrum]

I was going to say the pedunculate (English) oak until I began to think it doesn't tend to be a northern species. So maybe I will plump for dog rose, but does that really represent only England? Ah, how about the bluebell, a symbol of the British countryside?

[Jim Ford]

I guess it has to be a species in serious decline, mirroring the decline of Britain.
How about the water vole? It's particularly apposite because it's decline is mainly a result of predation by 'foreign interests'!

Jim

[Deb London]

How about the Raven? If you look at the distribution map, Scotland Wales and N. Ireland are well represented, and England's capital city too, for obvious reasons. A real all-rounder.

I like the idea of the Robin or the Badger too.