Bank of England reveals four wildlife animals for new banknotes
The Bank of England announces the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, bumblebee, and European hedgehog for redesigned banknotes, replacing historical figures.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Bank of England selects four wildlife creatures for redesigned banknotes
- Puffin, owl, bumblebee, and hedgehog won public nomination
- Atlantic puffin included to highlight marine life and coastline
- The change ends the tradition of featuring historical figures on notes
The Bank of England has unveiled the four creatures destined to appear on redesigned banknotes in the coming years, marking a major shift toward British wildlife over historical figures such as Sir Winston Churchill.
A panel of wildlife experts initially compiled a shortlist of 18 mammals, birds, amphibians, insects, and fish, which were subsequently opened up for public nomination where respondents could select up to six choices.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The public consultation drew more than 2.5 million votes cast by 478,531 individuals. The buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) emerged as the clear winner with 360,399 votes, while the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) led the mammal category. Meanwhile, the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) was chosen to celebrate marine life and coastlines.
The decision to replace historical figures with wildlife has drawn criticism from prominent politicians, including Reform leader Nigel Farage, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who described the move as a silly decision.
Transitioning bank-note designs from historical figures to native wildlife represents an effort to update security features against counterfeiting while modernizing national symbols. Currency redesigns frequently spark political debate because historical portraits traditionally serve as key representations of national heritage and identity.
Rhys Phillips, the Bank's incoming chief cashier responsible for the rollout, noted that designing, testing, and printing the new series will take years to ensure high quality, durability, and accessibility before official unveils closer to launch.
Source: BBC Business
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