Britain's Wildlife Set to Feature on Future Banknotes

The Bank of England has unveiled a shortlist of 18 British animals, birds and insects that could grace the reverse side of the nation's next series of banknotes — and the public now has until 3 July to have their say. It marks one of the most significant redesigns of UK currency in over half a century, with historical figures making way for the natural world.

A New Look for UK Cash
For the first time since 1970, the reverse of Bank of England notes will no longer feature notable figures from history. The current cast — Sir Winston Churchill (£5), Jane Austen (£10), JMW Turner (£20) and Alan Turing (£50) — will eventually be replaced by British wildlife, continuing to sit alongside a portrait of the monarch.

The Bank says the primary driver for the change is anti-counterfeiting: all images on banknotes need to be refreshed over time. The new series will take several years to design, test and print before entering circulation, so today's cash will remain legal tender for years to come.

Who Made the Shortlist?
A panel of wildlife experts — including filmmakers and presenters Gordon Buchanan, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Nadeem Perera — whittled the field down to 18 contenders across three categories:

Mammals: Bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, grey seal, pine marten, red fox

Birds: Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker, white-tailed eagle

Amphibians, insects & fish: Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, Emperor dragonfly, marsh fritillary butterfly

Household pets were excluded from consideration. The public can vote for up to two favourites from each category, and voting closes at the end of 3 July 2026. The final decision rests with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, who is not bound to select the four most popular choices.

A Political Flashpoint
The announcement earlier this year that Churchill would be replaced triggered a swift political reaction. Reform leader Nigel Farage objected to the prospect of a wartime leader being swapped for a beaver (which has since failed to make the shortlist), while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey questioned the timing given the ongoing conflict in Europe. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the decision "a silly thing to do".

Churchill's own granddaughter, Emma Soames, took a more measured view, telling the BBC she never expected his image to remain on the fiver indefinitely. She suggested his replacement should be "a very brave and courageous animal" — a fitting standard for whichever species ultimately wins the public vote.

What This Means for Cash Handling
For businesses and cash management professionals, redesigned banknote series bring important operational considerations. New security features, updated visual identifiers and revised machine-readable elements all require updates to cash handling equipment, staff training and authentication processes.

The good news is that timescales are generous. Designing, testing and printing a new series typically takes several years before notes enter circulation, giving retailers, banks and cash-in-transit providers ample time to prepare. And of course, existing notes will remain valid throughout the transition.

It's also worth noting this is not unprecedented territory for the UK. Wildlife already features on notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland — including mackerel, otters, red squirrels and osprey — and those transitions have been managed smoothly by the cash handling sector.

Have Your Say
The public consultation is open until 3rd July 2026. You can cast your vote on the Bank of England's website. Whether you're rooting for the charismatic puffin, the elusive pine marten or the humble bumblebee, this is a rare chance to have a direct say in the look of Britain's physical currency.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgzrpe6mzjo