Bank of England Selects Four Native Species for Next Banknote Series

The Bank of England has confirmed the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog will feature as the central images on the next series of UK banknotes, concluding a public consultation that drew nearly 500,000 responses.

Key Takeaways

Four animals selected: Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, European hedgehog
Nearly 500,000 public responses shaped the final selection
Animals chosen for both public appeal and counterfeit resilience across denominations
Denomination assignments (£5, £10, £20, £50) to be announced later
First new banknote launch expected within the next few years

INTELLIGENCE

Executive Intelligence Brief

What Happened: The Bank of England selected the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog as the central images for the next series of UK banknotes, following a public consultation with nearly 500,000 responses.

Why It Matters: The selection finalizes the design theme for the next generation of polymer banknotes, balancing public engagement with counterfeit resilience requirements across all four denominations.

What to Watch: The Bank will assign specific animals to the £5, £10, £20, and £50 denominations; design, testing, and production will proceed over the next few years before the first denomination launches.

Selection Process and Public Consultation

The decision follows a two-stage consultation process. In July 2025, the Bank launched a theme consultation receiving over 44,000 responses; nature emerged as the preferred theme with 60% support, confirmed in March 2026. A specialist panel — wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan MBE and Nottingham Trent University's Dawn Scott — then developed an 18-animal shortlist across three categories: mammals, birds, and amphibians, insects and fish.

A second consultation ran from 3 June to July 2026, attracting nearly half a million responses. The barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog topped their respective categories, while the Atlantic puffin was chosen as the most popular marine animal to add variety and celebrate the British coastline.

Design Objectives: Security and Distinction

Victoria Cleland, Chief Cashier, emphasized that the selected animals 'not only showcase the great variety of wildlife we have in the UK but will also enhance the security of our banknotes.' The inclusion of a marine species alongside terrestrial animals creates visual distinction across denominations, aiding counterfeit resilience — a core objective announced when design work began in July 2025.

The new series will retain the monarch's portrait. Additional natural elements, potentially including other shortlisted species, will complete the designs. Rhys Phillips, incoming Chief Cashier, noted the team will combine the imagery with 'cutting-edge security features and materials science.'

Production Timeline and Denomination Assignment

The Bank confirmed that assigning specific animals to the £5, £10, £20, and £50 denominations will be announced closer to launch. Design, testing, and printing typically take several years to ensure quality, resilience, and accessibility. The first denomination from the new series is expected to launch 'over the next few years,' though no fixed date was provided.

Cash Usage Context

Cleland framed the high consultation response as evidence that 'cash still matters' despite declining transaction volumes. The Bank's ongoing commitment to physical currency infrastructure reflects its mandate to maintain public confidence in the monetary system across all payment methods.