[REVISION HISTORY]

Bank of England banknote wildlife redesign

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-11 10:11 UTC → 2026-10-22 23:43 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Bank of England has announced a redesign of its banknotes, transitioning from featuring historical figures to showcasing British wildlife. This initiative follows a public consultation involving nearly 500,000 participants who voted on a shortlist of 18 species. The selected species for the £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes are the Atlantic puffin, the barn owl, the buff-tailed bumblebee, and the European hedgehog. In the voting process, the buff-tailed bumblebee led with approximately 360,000 votes. The hedgehog won the mammal category, the barn owl won the bird category, and the Atlantic puffin was chosen as the representative marine species. The redesign aims to enhance currency security and prevent counterfeiting through new features. While historical figures such as Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner, and Alan Turing will be removed, the portrait of King Charles III will remain on all notes. The RSPCA has expressed support for the initiative, noting it may help raise awareness for ‘less-loved’ species and challenge misconceptions about animals that are often misunderstood or less celebrated. Rhys Phillips has recently assumed the role of Chief Cashier and Director of Notes at the Bank of England. His responsibilities will include the delivery and circulation of the new banknotes, which will feature the chosen wildlife alongside his signature.

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