The Bank of England has confirmed the four animals that will be the central images on the next series of banknotes: the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog. These animals were chosen to represent UK wildlife following a public consultation.
Nearly 500,000 people participated in the consultation, selecting from a shortlist of 18 native wildlife options. The barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog were the most popular in their respective categories, while the Atlantic puffin was chosen as the most popular marine animal to add variety and celebrate the British coastline.
The Bank stated that the selected animals meet its objectives for a distinctive set of banknotes that support counterfeit resilience and are representative of the UK. The specific denomination each animal will feature on will be announced closer to the launch. The new series will also continue to include a portrait of the monarch.
The design, testing, and printing process for banknotes takes several years to ensure quality, resilience, and accessibility. The first denomination from this new series is anticipated to be launched over the next few years.