The Bank of England is encouraging people to choose their favourites
The British public is being asked to pick their favourite mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and fish to appear on future banknotes. A buff-tailed bumblebee, European hedgehog and barn owl are among the creatures that could feature under plans by the Bank of England, reports BritPanorama.
The central bank is collaborating with a panel of wildlife experts from across the UK on this project, which follows a public consultation conducted last year. The shortlisted species are all native to the UK and may be featured on £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes.
The Bank of England has expressed its desire to gather public feedback, stating, “We are keen to hear your views, which will be an important consideration in making our final decision on the design.”
Furthermore, the bank highlighted the necessity for the denominations (£5, £10, £20, £50) to be easily distinguishable. It is essential that there are four distinct animals representing different environments from across the UK.
The list has been categorized into three groups, covering a variety of species and environments. Members of the public can select up to two animals from each category.
The mammals
- bottlenose dolphin
- brown hare
- European hedgehog
- grey seal
- pine marten
- red fox
The birds
- Atlantic puffin
- barn owl
- common kingfisher
- Eurasian curlew
- great spotted woodpecker
- white-tailed eagle
The amphibians, insects and fish
- Atlantic salmon
- basking shark
- buff-tailed bumblebee
- common frog
- Emperor dragonfly
- marsh fritillary butterfly
The bank clarified that it might not select the four animals receiving the highest number of votes. Andrew Bailey, the governor of the bank, will make the final decision while “taking into account” public feedback.
“I very much hope the public will enjoy engaging in our consultation to choose the animals to feature on our next series of banknotes,” remarked Victoria Cleland, the bank’s chief cashier.
“The shortlisted animals demonstrate the rich variety of wildlife we have to celebrate in the UK.”
It will take several years before the next series of notes is introduced. Designing, testing and printing high-quality, resilient notes embedded with the latest anti-counterfeiting features is a detailed, multi-year undertaking.
The next series will continue to include a portrait of the monarch. The representation of the Home Nations will also be a significant aspect of the design, as stated by the Bank of England. Mackerel, red squirrels, otters and osprey are already displayed on Royal Bank of Scotland banknotes.
The public vote will conclude in late 2026, when the outcome will be announced.
Voting can be conducted via the consultation form, through email to enquiries@bankofengland.co.uk, or by writing to Banknote Imagery Consultation, Notes Directorate, Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH.
The Bank of England’s initiative reflects a growing trend of public engagement in national symbols. By spotlighting native species for future banknotes, the central bank not only reinforces cultural identity but also raises awareness about biodiversity. As the consultation unfolds, it will be vital to see how the public’s choices align with broader conservation goals and the representation of the UK’s rich natural heritage.
