The Bank of England has announced that four animals will feature on redesigned banknotes in the future. The Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog were selected through a public vote, although the specific banknotes on which they will appear have yet to be determined. The owl, bumblebee, and hedgehog were the top choices in their respective categories, while the puffin was included to represent marine life and add variety to the notes.
Victoria Cleland, the Bank's chief cashier, stated, "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." A shortlist of 18 species was created by a panel of wildlife experts, and the public was invited to vote for their favorites, resulting in over 2.5 million votes from 478,531 participants.
The buff-tailed bumblebee received the most votes, totaling 360,399, followed by the barn owl with nearly 90,000 fewer votes. The European hedgehog was the most popular choice in the mammals category. Although the red fox and common kingfisher received more nominations than the puffin, the puffin was selected as it was the most popular marine animal.
The Bank noted that the inclusion of the puffin adds variety to the series and helps distinguish the denominations. The puffin and bumblebee also appear on redesigned coins issued by the Royal Mint. Each of the selected animals will serve as the central image on a £5, £10, £20, or £50 note, which will also incorporate other natural elements in their designs. The monarch's image will remain on the reverse side of the notes.
Rhys Phillips, the incoming chief cashier, mentioned that the design, testing, and printing process for the new notes could take several years. He emphasized the importance of ensuring high-quality, resilient, and accessible designs. The Bank will work on integrating the announced imagery with advanced security features.
Currently, wildlife is already represented on banknotes in the UK, with images of mackerel, otters, red squirrels, and ospreys featured on notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland. This change marks the first time since 1970 that notable historical figures will not appear on the reverse side of Bank of England notes. The current notes feature figures such as Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner, and Alan Turing. The decision to replace Churchill's image has drawn criticism from some political leaders, including Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch, who described the move as "a silly thing to do." The Bank stated that the primary reason for the change is to prevent counterfeiting, necessitating periodic updates to banknote images.