Shamrock back

David Fiddimore (Letters, 20 March) comments on the likely value of the proposed new £1 coin after the UK terminates. It interests me that the shamrock is included in the “four nations” symbolism – shamrock is generally thought to represent Ireland as a whole.

When the UK Supreme Court was set up recently, a flax plant, which few could recognise, was used to represent Northern Ireland.

Has the attempt to replace shamrock with flax in the floral symbolism of the United Kingdom been abandoned?

DAVID STEVENSON

Blacket Place

Edinburgh