Puffin, barn owl, bumblebee and hedgehog chosen for new banknotes

The Atlantic puffin, the barn owl, the buff-tailed bumblebee and the European hedgehog will feature on the Bank of England's next series of banknotes, after nearly half a million people took part in a public vote.

The four animals will be the central images on the new notes, one for each denomination. It is the first time animals will take the place of the historical figures who have appeared on the back of Bank of England notes for decades.

How they were chosen

The Bank's consultation, which ran from 3 June to 3 July, received 478,531 responses, the most it has ever had for a banknote consultation. People chose from a shortlist of 18 animals in three categories, mammals; birds; and amphibians, insects and fish, drawn up with a panel of wildlife experts. Together they made more than 2.5 million selections.

The barn owl, the buff-tailed bumblebee and the European hedgehog were the most popular in their categories. The Atlantic puffin was chosen as the most popular marine animal, adding variety and a celebration of the British coastline.

"Cash still matters"

Victoria Cleland, the Bank's Chief Cashier, said: "I am delighted that nearly half a million people responded to our wildlife imagery consultation, showing that cash still matters. 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."

Rhys Phillips, the incoming Chief Cashier who will be responsible for delivering the new notes, said: "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."

When will they arrive?

Designing, testing and printing banknotes takes several years, so the first of the new notes is expected to be launched over the next few years. The Bank will decide which animal goes on which note closer to the launch. The designs may also include other elements from nature, possibly including other animals from the shortlist, and the notes will continue to carry a portrait of the monarch.

The current notes, which feature Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing, will stay in circulation for now.

Why change?

The Bank announced in July 2025 that work would begin on a new series, with the main goal of making notes harder to counterfeit. Nature was chosen as the theme in March 2026, after 60 per cent of people who responded to an earlier consultation nominated it.

Birmingham's connection

Birmingham has its own link to banknote history: Matthew Boulton and James Watt, the industrialists of the Soho Manufactory in Handsworth, appeared together on the £50 note from 2011. Hedgehogs, barn owls and bumblebees can all still be found in and around Birmingham's parks and gardens, and wildlife charities hope the new notes will encourage people to look out for them.