# Bank of England picks four animals for new banknotes

> Bank of England confirms Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog will feature on next banknotes.
- Title: Bank of England picks four animals for new banknotes
- Summary: Bank of England confirms Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog will feature on next banknotes. The Bank of England selected…
- Keywords: bank of england, atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, european hedgehog, banknotes, public consultation, uk wildlife, Bank, England, picks, four
- Source: MoneyWeek — https://moneyweek.com/personal-finance/banknotes-bank-of-england-animals
- Published: 2026-10-08T14:24:03+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bank of england, atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, european hedgehog, banknotes, public consultation, uk wildlife
## Bank of England confirms new banknote animals
The Bank of England has confirmed the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog will feature on new banknotes launching in the next few years.
## Public voted for four UK animals
Almost 480,000 Brits voted in a consultation launched by the Bank of England in June to decide which fauna will replace historical figures on the notes.
## Voting results for animal categories
European hedgehog received 259,665 votes in mammals, barn owl 270,596 in birds, and buff-tailed bumblebee 360,399 in amphibians, insects and fish.
## Bank of England chief cashier comments
Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England, said: 'I am delighted that nearly half a million people responded to our wildlife imagery consultation'.

> I am delighted that nearly half a million people responded to our wildlife imagery consultation
## New banknotes will include security features
The new animal-based notes, which are being launched over the next few years, will come with the latest technology to make them harder to counterfeit.
## Previous banknotes featured historical figures
The £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations previously featured historical figures on the reverse side.
## What happens next
The Bank of England will assign each of the four animals to specific banknote denominations over the next few years.
## Key takeaway

The Bank of England selected four UK animals after public consultation to replace historical figures on new banknotes.