Bank of England Unveils Four Native Animals Set to Replace Historic Figures on Future Banknotes

The Bank of England has confirmed that four British creatures will grace the next generation of banknotes, marking a significant departure from the historical figures that have appeared on the reverse of its currency for more than half a century. The Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog will each take a starring role when the redesigned series eventually enters circulation, although officials have not yet determined which denomination will carry which animal.

The announcement follows an extensive public consultation that drew more than 2.5 million votes from 478,531 participants. The exercise, which attracted input ranging from dedicated wildlife enthusiasts to entire primary school classes, invited respondents to select up to six species from a shortlist of 18 mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and fish drawn up by a panel of wildlife experts. The final four were not simply the highest vote-getters; the Bank also weighed considerations such as design variety and the desire to celebrate Britain's marine environment and coastline.

The buff-tailed bumblebee emerged as the runaway favourite, collecting 360,399 votes — nearly 90,000 more than its nearest rival. The barn owl secured its place as the leading bird with 270,596 votes, while the European hedgehog topped the mammals category with 259,665 votes. The Atlantic puffin, which received 183,137 votes, was not the most popular bird or the most popular animal overall, but its selection reflects the Bank's decision to include the most popular marine species. The puffin also offers the added benefit of making the different denominations easier for the public to distinguish from one another.

Notable among the near-misses were the red fox and the common kingfisher, both of which attracted more public support than the puffin but were ultimately not chosen. The fox finished with 244,651 votes and the kingfisher with 211,277. Other species that featured prominently in the rankings included the emperor dragonfly on 143,894 votes, the brown hare on 130,614, the common frog on 120,382 and the marsh fritillary butterfly on 108,467. A further group of contenders — among them the grey seal, pine marten, basking shark, bottlenose dolphin, white-tailed eagle, Atlantic salmon and Eurasian curlew — each received fewer than 100,000 votes.

Victoria Cleland, the Bank's chief cashier, framed the choice as a celebration of the country's natural heritage as well as a practical decision. She said the four animals were selected because they showcase the remarkable variety of wildlife found across the United Kingdom while also contributing to the security features of the new notes. Her comments underline that the redesign is not solely an aesthetic exercise; the imagery is intertwined with anti-counterfeiting technology, a point the Bank has stressed repeatedly throughout the process.

The shift represents the first time since 1970 that the reverse side of Bank of England notes will not depict a notable figure from British history. The current series, in ascending order of value, honours former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 note, author Jane Austen on the £10, artist JMW Turner on the £20 and mathematician and wartime codebreaker Alan Turing on the £50. Each of the four new creatures will occupy the central image on one of those same denominations, with the monarch continuing to appear on the obverse. The Bank has indicated that other natural elements, potentially including some of the animals that were shortlisted but not selected, may also be woven into the designs.

The decision to remove Churchill in particular provoked a political backlash. Reform leader Nigel Farage and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey both voiced objections, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the move as "a silly thing to do." The criticism reflects a broader sensitivity about altering national symbols on currency, even though the Bank has insisted its primary motivation is to stay ahead of counterfeiters. Churchill's granddaughter has publicly expressed happiness that her grandfather's picture is being replaced, suggesting that opinion on the change is far from uniform.

Rhys Phillips, the Bank's incoming chief cashier who will oversee the roll-out of the new series, sought to temper expectations about how quickly the public will see the notes in their wallets. He explained that designing, testing and printing banknotes is a process that can take several years. The Bank must ensure that every note is high-quality, durable and accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments. Because the designs remain at a very early stage, they will not be unveiled until much closer to the launch date. The first denomination from the new series is expected to be introduced over the next few years.

Phillips added that the institution will now focus on combining the newly announced imagery with cutting-edge security features and advances in materials science. That work will determine not only how the animals are rendered but also how the notes perform in daily use over many years. The Bank has emphasised that the eventual designs will reflect both the artistic ambition of the project and the technical demands of modern currency production.

Wildlife is not entirely new to British money. The Royal Bank of Scotland already issues notes featuring species such as mackerel, otters, red squirrels and osprey, demonstrating that animals can serve as effective and popular motifs. The puffin and the bee have also appeared on coins, as part of the Royal Mint's redesigned 20p and £1 pieces respectively. The Bank of England's move therefore aligns its notes with a broader trend of using nature to represent national identity, even as it breaks with its own long-standing tradition of commemorating historical figures.

The new series will place nature at the heart of British currency, with the four chosen animals acting as ambassadors for the country's biodiversity. For the Bank, the hope is that the notes will be both harder to forge and more engaging to the public. For wildlife campaigners, the announcement offers a rare moment of national visibility. And for the politicians who objected to the removal of Churchill, the debate serves as a reminder that even the design of a banknote can become a matter of fierce public contention.