The Bank of England has confirmed the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog will be the central images on the next series of £5, £10, £20, and £50 banknotes. This decision follows a public consultation launched in June, which saw almost 480,000 people vote.
The consultation allowed the public to choose from a shortlist of 18 animals across three categories: Mammals, birds and amphibians, insects and fish. The European hedgehog received 259,665 votes, the barn owl 270,596 votes, and the Atlantic puffin 183,137 votes. The buff-tailed bumblebee garnered 360,399 votes.
Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England, stated that the chosen animals "showcase the great variety of wildlife we have in the UK but will also enhance the security of our banknotes." The new animal-based notes are set to be launched over the next few years and will feature the latest technology to make them harder to counterfeit.
The theme of animals for the new notes was confirmed in March 2026, after an initial consultation in July 2025 asked the public to decide on a theme. Approximately 60% of 44,000 responses preferred the animal theme.