The Bank chose four native animals for the next pound notes after almost 500,000 consultation responses. It has not assigned animals to denominations or set an issue date.
The Bank of England said on 8 October that the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog will be the central images on the next series of pound notes. The choice followed a public consultation that drew nearly 500,000 responses from a shortlist of 18 species.
The barn owl, bumblebee and hedgehog were the most popular animals in their categories. The Bank said it picked the puffin as the most popular marine animal, to distinguish the denominations and to mark the coastline. The BBC reported the bumblebee received 360,399 votes, nearly 90,000 more than the barn owl.
Wildlife will replace historical figures such as Winston Churchill. The BBC said that decision had angered some politicians. Each animal will appear on a 5, 10, 20 or 50 pound note, with other nature elements still to be designed. The Bank has not said which animal goes on which note.
The puffin and the bee already appear on Royal Mint coins, the BBC noted. The Bank said the four animals met its aims for notes that are distinct, hard to counterfeit and representative of the UK.
No print date was announced. Current notes stay in circulation. The announcement is the selection, not the issue of new cash.
People Sentiments Neutral
- The Bank said the owl, bee and hedgehog topped their categories in a consultation of nearly 500,000 people.
- The BBC reported that replacing historical figures with wildlife had angered some politicians.