The short version
- The Bank of England has selected the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog to appear on redesigned banknotes.
- This shift marks the first time since 1970 that historical figures will not be featured on the reverse side of notes issued by the central bank.
- Political leaders have criticized the decision, particularly the removal of Winston Churchill, while the Bank cites anti-counterfeiting measures as the primary motivation.
The Bank of England has officially identified four native animals that will serve as the central imagery for its next series of banknotes. The selected creatures are the Atlantic puffin, the barn owl, the buff-tailed bumblebee, and the European hedgehog. This selection concludes a public consultation process in which hundreds of thousands of citizens voted on a shortlist of eighteen species drawn up by wildlife experts. The decision represents a significant departure from recent tradition, as these animals will replace notable historical figures who have long adorned British currency.
The voting results reflected strong public preference for specific species within their respective categories. The buff-tailed bumblebee emerged as the overall winner, securing more than 360,000 votes, which was nearly 90,000 more than the barn owl. The European hedgehog topped the mammal category, while the Atlantic puffin was chosen to represent marine life and the British coastline. Although the red fox and common kingfisher received more nominations in their respective groups, the Bank opted for the puffin to ensure variety across the denominations and to celebrate maritime heritage.
Victoria Cleland, the Bank’s chief cashier, stated that the chosen animals showcase the diversity of UK wildlife while enhancing the security features of the notes. The primary driver for this comprehensive redesign is the need to combat counterfeiting. As printing technologies evolve, the Bank must periodically update its currency designs to incorporate advanced security measures and materials science. Consequently, all existing images on current banknotes will eventually be replaced as part of this long-term strategy.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from several prominent political figures who view the removal of historical icons as a loss of cultural heritage. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey expressed anger over the decision, particularly regarding the replacement of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 note. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the change as foolish. Currently, circulating notes feature Churchill, author Jane Austen, artist J.M.W. Turner, and mathematician Alan Turing.
Despite the political backlash, the Bank maintains that the transition is necessary for the integrity of the currency. This will be the first time since 1970 that the reverse side of Bank of England notes will not depict notable figures from history. The monarch will continue to appear on the obverse side of the notes. The new designs will also include other natural elements, potentially featuring additional shortlisted animals in secondary roles, creating a cohesive nature-themed series.
The implementation of these new banknotes is expected to be a lengthy process. Rhys Phillips, the incoming chief cashier responsible for the rollout, noted that designing, testing, and printing high-quality, resilient, and accessible currency takes years. The current announcements are only the initial step in a complex production cycle that involves integrating the selected imagery with cutting-edge security features. Final designs will not be unveiled until closer to the launch date.
The selection process involved more than 2.5 million votes cast by nearly half a million participants, ranging from wildlife enthusiasts to primary school classes. Respondents were invited to select up to six animals from the expert-drawn shortlist. The broad engagement underscores the public interest in the aesthetic direction of national currency. The Bank emphasized that the chosen species are distinct and inspiring, aiming to reflect the natural environment of the United Kingdom.
While wildlife has previously appeared on banknotes issued by devolved banks such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, which features mackerel, otters, red squirrels, and ospreys, this is a first for the central bank. The new series will assign each of the four winning animals to a specific denomination: £5, £10, £20, or £50. However, no final decision has been made regarding which animal will correspond to which value. The Bank aims to make the denominations easier to distinguish through these varied images.
The broader context of this redesign includes parallel updates to coinage by the Royal Mint, where puffins and bees are also featured on redesigned 20p and £1 coins respectively. This coordinated approach suggests a wider shift in how British currency represents national identity. As the Bank moves forward with technical development, the focus remains on producing notes that are secure against fraud while maintaining public trust and accessibility.
The controversy surrounding the removal of Churchill highlights the tension between functional security requirements and symbolic historical representation. While the Bank views the change as a practical necessity to prevent counterfeiting, critics see it as an erasure of significant historical contributions. The final outcome will depend on the successful integration of new security technologies and public acceptance of the new aesthetic direction over the coming years.
Sources behind this briefing
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- BBC Business↗Hedgehog among four chosen animals to feature on your new banknotes
