Puffin, barn owl and hedgehog selected for Britain’s next banknotes

Yesterday 22:30

By: Azzat Manal

Puffin, barn owl and hedgehog selected for Britain’s next banknotes

The Bank of England has selected four British wildlife species to feature on the next generation of banknotes, following one of its largest public consultations on banknote imagery.

The Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog will form the central wildlife imagery of the new series. The designs are still at an early stage, with the first denomination expected to enter circulation in the coming years.

Nearly 480,000 people took part in the consultation, which asked the public to choose their preferred animals from a shortlist of 18 species representing mammals, birds, and amphibians, insects and fish.

The European hedgehog received the highest number of nominations among mammals, while the barn owl topped the bird category. The buff-tailed bumblebee was the most popular choice among amphibians, insects and fish. The Atlantic puffin was selected as the most popular marine animal, adding a coastal element to the future banknote series.

The Bank of England said it did not simply select the four animals with the largest number of votes. Instead, it also considered the need to represent different environments and aspects of wildlife across the United Kingdom.

The decision on which animal will appear on each denomination has not yet been made. The central wildlife images will be complemented by other elements inspired by nature, while some animals from the original shortlist could also be incorporated into the final designs.

The new banknotes will continue to feature a portrait of the monarch, maintaining a longstanding tradition of British currency. The current series includes Winston Churchill on the £5 note, Jane Austen on the £10, JMW Turner on the £20 and Alan Turing on the £50.

The Bank of England said producing a new banknote series is a lengthy process involving design, testing and printing. Security, durability and accessibility will remain key considerations as the new notes are developed.

Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s chief cashier, welcomed the strong public response to the consultation, saying it demonstrated continued interest in cash despite the rapid growth of contactless payments and digital wallets.

The consultation received 478,531 responses, with participants making more than 2.5 million selections across the 18 shortlisted animals. The Bank of England said this was the largest response it had ever received to a consultation on banknote imagery.

The new series will combine the selected wildlife with advanced security features and modern materials, while offering a visual representation of Britain’s natural environment. The final designs and the allocation of animals to individual denominations will be announced closer to the launch of the new notes.