Bank of England to feature wildlife on new banknotes

The Bank of England has announced that its next generation of banknotes will feature British wildlife instead of historical figures. Following a public consultation involving nearly 500,000 participants, four animal species were selected to adorn the £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes.

The chosen animals are the Atlantic puffin, the barn owl, the buff-tailed bumblebee, and the European hedgehog. These species were selected to represent different habitats, including marine and terrestrial environments. The decision aims to enhance banknote security and make the currency more distinctive to prevent counterfeiting.

This redesign will replace prominent figures such as Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, J.M.W. Turner, and Alan Turing. While the historical figures will be removed from the reverse sides of the notes, the portrait of the reigning monarch, King Charles III, will continue to appear on all banknotes. The transition is expected to take several years as the Bank moves into the design, testing, and production phases.