Puffin, Barn Owl, Bumblebee and Hedgehog Win Vote to Appear on New Bank of England Notes

The Bank of England has unveiled the four creatures that will grace the next generation of its banknotes, marking a significant departure from the historical figures that have long adorned British cash. The Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog emerged as the chosen animals following a public consultation that drew widespread participation from across the country.

The announcement, made by the central bank, confirms that wildlife will replace notable figures from British history on the reverse side of the notes for the first time in more than five decades. The current series features former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 note, author Jane Austen on the £10, artist JMW Turner on the £20 and wartime codebreaker Alan Turing on the £50.

The buff-tailed bumblebee proved to be the most popular choice overall, securing 360,399 votes — nearly 90,000 more than its closest competitor. The barn owl claimed the top spot among birds with 270,596 votes, while the European hedgehog led the mammals category with 259,665 votes. The Atlantic puffin, which received 183,137 votes, was included not as a category winner but because it was the most popular marine animal, giving the bank an opportunity to celebrate Britain's coastline and marine life.

More than 2.5 million votes were cast by 478,531 people, a remarkably high level of engagement that ranged from individual wildlife enthusiasts to entire primary school classes. A panel of wildlife experts had initially drawn up a shortlist of 18 mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and fish, which was then put forward for public nominations. Participants were invited to select up to six of their favoured creatures.

Victoria Cleland, the Bank's chief cashier, described the selections as "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." Her comments suggest that the intricate designs of the creatures will serve a dual purpose, both celebrating British nature and incorporating sophisticated anti-counterfeiting features.

The decision to feature animals rather than historical figures has generated considerable political controversy. Reform leader Nigel Farage and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey both expressed anger at the proposed removal of Churchill, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the move as "a silly thing to do." The wartime leader's granddaughter, however, indicated she was happy with his picture being replaced on the £5 note, offering a contrasting perspective on the change.

The Bank of England has defended the shift primarily as a measure to combat counterfeiting, explaining that complex nature imagery is more difficult to replicate than portraits. The redesign represents the first time since 1970 that the reverse side of Bank of England notes will no longer feature notable historical figures, a change that reflects both evolving security requirements and a desire to celebrate the natural world.

Each of the four creatures will appear as the central image on either a £5, £10, £20 or £50 note, though no final decision has been made about which animal will appear on which denomination. The notes will also incorporate other elements from nature as part of their designs, potentially including some of the other shortlisted animals. The monarch will continue to feature on the other side of the notes, maintaining a long-standing tradition.

The shortlist from which the winners were drawn included a diverse array of British wildlife. The red fox received 244,651 votes and the common kingfisher 211,277, both outpolling the puffin in their respective categories. Other contenders included the emperor dragonfly with 143,894 votes, the brown hare with 130,614, the common frog with 120,382 and the marsh fritillary butterfly with 108,467. The grey seal, pine marten, basking shark, bottlenose dolphin, white-tailed eagle, Atlantic salmon and Eurasian curlew each received fewer than 100,000 votes.

This is not the first time that wildlife has appeared on British currency. Mackerel, otters, red squirrels and osprey already feature on notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland, demonstrating that animal imagery has precedent in UK banking. Additionally, the puffin and bees appear on coins as part of the Royal Mint's redesigned 20p and £1 coins respectively, suggesting a broader trend toward celebrating nature on the nation's money.

Rhys Phillips, the Bank's incoming chief cashier who will oversee the roll-out of the new series, cautioned that the process of designing, testing and printing banknotes could take several years. He emphasised the need to ensure the notes are high-quality, resilient and accessible to all users. As the designs are only in their very early stages, they will not be unveiled until closer to their launch date.

"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," Phillips said. His statement underscores the technical complexity involved in creating modern currency that can withstand daily use while remaining extremely difficult to forge. The first denomination from the new series will be launched over the next few years, according to the Bank.