LONDON, United Kingdom – The United Kingdom is set to feature four native animals on its next series of banknotes after the Bank of England selected the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog following a public consultation.
The Bank of England announced the selection on Thursday, saying the animals were chosen to represent the country’s wildlife while helping create a distinctive and secure new series of banknotes.
Nearly 500,000 people took part in the consultation, selecting from a shortlist of 18 animals developed with the help of UK wildlife experts.
The shortlisted species were grouped into three categories covering mammals, birds, and amphibians, insects and fish.
“The barn owl (Tyto alba), buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) were the most popular animals in their respective categories. The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) was selected because it was the most popular marine animal,” the Bank of England said.
Four Animals Selected
The Bank said the inclusion of a marine species would add variety to the banknote series, make the different denominations easier to distinguish and provide an opportunity to celebrate the British coastline.
The animal assigned to each denomination has not yet been decided and will be announced closer to the launch of the new notes.
Although the four selected animals will form the central imagery, the banknotes will also contain other elements of nature. The Bank said these could include some of the other animals that appeared on the consultation shortlist.
The new series will also continue to feature a portrait of the monarch.
New Notes Could Take Years
The Bank of England has not announced a specific launch date for the new banknotes.
It said designing, testing and printing a new series takes several years to ensure the notes are high-quality, durable and accessible.
“The expectation is, therefore, that the first denomination from the next series will be launched over the next few years,” the Bank said.
Bank of England Chief Cashier Victoria Cleland said the four selected animals were distinctive species that would showcase the diversity of UK wildlife while contributing to the security of the new notes.
Rhys Phillips, the Bank’s incoming Chief Cashier who will oversee delivery of the new series, said the next stage would involve designing, testing and producing the banknotes.
This will include combining the selected wildlife imagery with new security features and advances in materials science.
“It’s fantastic to see how engaged the public has been in this choice. With these animals as the focus for the design, we can deliver a new series of banknotes that are secure and represent the UK at its best,” Phillips said.
Nature Theme For New Banknotes
The Bank of England announced plans to redesign the banknotes in July last year under a nature theme.
It subsequently worked with a panel of UK wildlife experts to develop the shortlist, covering a range of species and habitats.
The new designs will eventually replace the current series, which features historical figures including Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 note, Jane Austen on the £10, JMW Turner on the £20 and Alan Turing on the £50.
The Bank said the process would continue over the coming years as it develops, tests and prepares the new banknotes for circulation.
