The Bank of England has announced that four wildlife species will feature on a redesigned series of banknotes, marking the first time since 1970 that historical figures will be replaced on the reverse of the currency. The Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog have been selected following a major public consultation that attracted more than 2.5 million votes from nearly 480,000 participants.
Each creature will serve as the central image on a £5, £10, £20 or £50 note, though the Bank has not yet determined which animal will appear on which denomination. The designs will incorporate additional natural elements alongside the four main species, while the monarch will continue to feature on the obverse side of all notes.
How were the animals chosen?
A panel of wildlife experts compiled a shortlist of 18 species—six mammals, six birds, and six amphibians, insects and fish—which were then put to public vote. According to the Bank of England's announcement, the public could select up to two candidates from each category. The buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) emerged as the clear overall winner with 360,399 votes, substantially ahead of the barn owl (Tyto alba), which received 270,596 votes. The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) topped the mammals category with 259,665 votes.
The red fox and common kingfisher both received more individual votes than the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), which garnered 183,137 votes. However, the puffin was selected because it ranked as the most popular marine animal, allowing the Bank to celebrate marine life and the British coastline while adding visual variety to the series. According to the Bank's design guidance, the four animals must represent different environments and make the denominations easy to distinguish, meaning the final selection was not determined solely by vote totals.
What do the experts say about the selection?
We have chosen four distinct and inspiring animals that not only showcase the great variety of wildlife we have in the UK but will also enhance the security of our banknotes,said Victoria Cleland, the Bank's chief cashier. The inclusion of these species reflects a significant shift in currency design philosophy, as nature was selected as the preferred theme by 60% of respondents in a 2025 consultation, outpacing both architecture and landmarks (56%) and notable historical figures (38%).
Rhys Phillips, the Bank's incoming chief cashier who will oversee the rollout of the new series, emphasised that the process of designing, testing and printing banknotes would require considerable time.
We'll now work to design, test and produce the banknotes, combining the imagery we've announced today with cutting-edge security features and materials science,he said. The designs remain in their earliest stages, and detailed visuals will be released closer to the notes' eventual launch.
Why are historical figures being replaced?
The shift away from notable historical figures represents a departure from nearly 60 years of Bank of England banknote design. Currently circulating notes feature former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (£5), author Jane Austen (£10), artist JMW Turner (£20) and mathematician and wartime codebreaker Alan Turing (£50). The Bank stated that the primary motivation for replacing all images on banknotes over time is to prevent counterfeiting, as security features require periodic updates across the entire design.
The proposed removal of Churchill from the £5 note has provoked criticism from several political figures. Reform leader Nigel Farage and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey both objected to the decision, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described it as
a silly thing to do.Churchill's granddaughter, however, expressed support for his image being replaced on the note.
How does this compare to other UK banknotes?
Wildlife already features prominently on banknotes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland, which display mackerel, otters, red squirrels and osprey. The puffin and bumblebee also appear on redesigned coins issued by the Royal Mint, with the puffin featured on the 20p coin and the bumblebee on the £1 coin, creating a degree of consistency across UK currency.
What happens next?
The Bank's public consultation on which animals should appear on the notes closed on 3 July 2026. Governor Andrew Bailey will make the final choice of which species will feature on each denomination, taking public feedback into account. According to the Bank's timeline, the outcome of this decision will be announced by the end of 2026. The actual production and circulation of the new banknotes will take a number of years, as the notes must undergo rigorous design, testing and printing processes to ensure they meet the Bank's standards for quality, resilience and accessibility.
Key Facts
- More than 2.5 million votes were cast by 478,531 people across three animal categories in the public consultation.
- The buff-tailed bumblebee received 360,399 votes, nearly 90,000 more than the second-place barn owl.
- This is the first redesign of Bank of England banknote reverses since 1970, when historical figures were first introduced to the currency.
- The four selected animals will serve as the central images on the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes, with the monarch remaining on the obverse side.
- The new banknotes will incorporate cutting-edge security features alongside the wildlife imagery to prevent counterfeiting.
