The Bank of England said the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog will be the central images on the next series of pound notes, after nearly 500,000 people took part in a consultation.
The Bank of England said on Thursday that four animals will be the central images on the next series of pound banknotes: the Atlantic puffin, the barn owl, the buff-tailed bumblebee and the European hedgehog. The notes will still carry a portrait of the monarch.
The choice followed a consultation that ran from 3 June to 3 July and drew 478,531 responses, the most the Bank has received on banknote imagery. People chose from 18 animals grouped as mammals, birds, and amphibians, insects and fish. The owl, bee and hedgehog led their categories. The puffin was the most popular marine animal and was added for variety and the coastline.
The Bank published nomination totals of 360,399 for the buff-tailed bumblebee, 270,596 for the barn owl, 259,665 for the European hedgehog and 183,137 for the Atlantic puffin. It has not decided which animal goes on the 5, 10, 20 or 50 pound note.
Chief cashier Victoria Cleland said the response showed cash still matters and that the animals would help security as well as show UK wildlife. Incoming chief cashier Rhys Phillips, who takes over on 19 October, said design, testing and production come next. The Bank said the first new denomination is expected over the next few years, not immediately.
Current Series G notes show Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing. Cash in circulation was 91.5 billion pounds at the end of February 2026, the Bank said.
People Sentiments Positive
- Victoria Cleland said nearly half a million responses showed cash still matters.
- Rhys Phillips said the Bank will now design and test notes around the animal images.