Britain’s next generation of banknotes will celebrate four much-loved residents of the natural world: the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog.
The Bank of England revealed the winning animals following its biggest-ever public consultation on banknote imagery. A remarkable 478,531 people took part, casting more than 2.5 million selections from a shortlist of 18 native species.
Each animal will eventually become the central image on one of Britain’s four banknote denominations, although the Bank has not yet decided which creature will appear on the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes.
Four winners from across Britain’s wildlife
The European hedgehog topped the mammals category with 259,665 nominations, narrowly beating the red fox.
The barn owl was Britain’s favourite bird, receiving 270,596 selections. Meanwhile, the buff-tailed bumblebee achieved the highest total of any animal in the consultation, attracting an impressive 360,399 nominations.
The Atlantic puffin received 183,137 votes. Although it finished behind the barn owl and kingfisher in the overall bird category, it was selected as the most popular marine animal.
Its inclusion will help make the different denominations easier to distinguish while also celebrating Britain’s coastline and marine wildlife.
Other popular contenders included the brown hare, grey seal, kingfisher, emperor dragonfly, common frog and marsh fritillary butterfly.
A completely new look for British cash
The animals will replace the celebrated historical figures currently appearing on the reverse of Bank of England notes.
The existing series features Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 note, Jane Austen on the £10, artist JMW Turner on the £20 and computing pioneer Alan Turing on the £50.
Portraits of notable historical figures have appeared on British banknotes since 1970, making the move towards wildlife a significant change in direction.
The new notes will still feature a portrait of the monarch, alongside additional elements inspired by nature. Some of the animals that did not make the final four could also appear within the wider designs.
Nature was chosen as the overall theme following an earlier consultation in 2025. Around 60% of respondents included it among their preferred options.
More than an attractive redesign
The new imagery is not simply decorative.
The Bank of England wants the next series to be distinctive, accessible and substantially harder to counterfeit. Different animals, environments, colours and design elements will help people distinguish between denominations.
Scientists and designers will now begin developing new materials, accessibility features, security measures and detailed engravings before manufacturing and trials can start.
Incoming Chief Cashier Rhys Phillips said the Bank would combine the wildlife imagery with “cutting-edge security features and materials science”.
The process of designing, testing and printing an entirely new series of banknotes takes several years. The Bank therefore expects the first denomination to enter circulation sometime over the next few years, with further details announced closer to launch.
Cash still has a place in Britain
Although card and digital payments have become increasingly common, cash remains the preferred payment method for around one in seven people in Britain and continues to be used by millions more.
The total value of cash in circulation reached £91.5 billion at the end of February 2026.
Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s Chief Cashier, said the huge public response demonstrated that cash still matters.
The consultation allowed people across the country to play a direct part in shaping something most of us have carried in our pockets at one time or another.
Why it matters for Britain
The new banknotes will combine stronger security and improved accessibility with a colourful celebration of Britain’s wildlife.
Choosing familiar animals rather than another collection of famous individuals also gives the notes a broader national appeal. From hedgerows and gardens to farmland and coastline, the four winners represent environments found across the country.
It may be several years before Britain can carry puffins, owls, bees and hedgehogs in its wallets - but their arrival promises to make the next generation of banknotes one of the country’s most distinctive yet.
