A new national symbol for Cornwall - updated: yes it is the first of April

The St Austell Voice has this week carried a story, about a new black and white daffodil that has been created, in which I have been quoted. For those of you who haven’t seen it, the story is reprinted below:

A Swedish horticulturalist working at the Eden Project has created the world’s first black and white daffodil. The new variety was, according to the specialist in selective breeding at the Eden Project, inspired by the flag of St Piran.

The new variety has been named Narcissus Kernowvii. Scientists will register and verify the variant as a unique strain this Friday.

Doctor Inga Johansson from Stockholm said that the colour variant could only have happened at Eden: “The conditions here are absolutely perfect, many people over the years have created variants on the traditional yellow, or yellow or white, but despite numerous attempts black and white has always remained elusive.”

Doctor Johansson was keeping tight-lipped over how she succeeded in growing the monochromatic hybrid but her discovery has been met with enthusiastic support from Cornish politicians.

Cornwall Councillor and leader of Mebyon Kernow Dick Cole was delighted that a flower had been created for the county and suggested that the flower could become the new Cornish emblem. Cllr Cole said: “This is fabulous news for Cornwall and well done to Eden. If it is verified later this week as a unique variant I shall be actively canvassing my members to embrace it as the new county emblem instead of the Chough, which I believe has had its day.”