The Bank of England has unveiled a shortlist of 18 British wildlife species that could become the central images on new £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes, potentially replacing historical figures such as Sir Winston Churchill and Jane Austen. The move, announced earlier this year, sparked controversy, with critics calling it 'total bonkers' and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the Bank of 'erasing our history'.
Public Consultation Open Until July 3
The Bank is pressing ahead with a public consultation running until July 3, inviting the public to choose their preferred animals. However, the Bank warned that the final decision rests with the governor, who may not necessarily select the most popular choices due to design considerations. The new notes are expected to launch in a 'number of years', with the final decision announced by the end of this year.
Shortlisted Species by Category
The shortlist, compiled by a panel of wildlife experts, is divided into three categories:
- Mammals: Bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, grey seal, pine marten, and red fox.
- Birds: Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker, and white-tailed eagle.
- Amphibians, insects, and fish: Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, Emperor dragonfly, and marsh fritillary butterfly.
Members of the public can select up to two examples from each category in the consultation.
Background and Controversy
The use of historical figures on banknotes began in 1970 with William Shakespeare. Current UK banknotes feature Churchill, Austen, artist JMW Turner, and codebreaker Alan Turing. The Bank has faced previous controversies over a lack of female representation, which led to Austen's inclusion in 2017, and historical links to slavery, prompting the removal of paintings and busts of former governors connected to the slave trade in 2021.
Bank of England chief cashier Victoria Cleland said: 'I very much hope the public will enjoy engaging in our consultation to choose the animals to feature on our next series of banknotes. The shortlisted animals demonstrate the rich variety of wildlife we have to celebrate in the UK.'
Despite a decline in cash transactions, the Bank noted that cash remains the preferred payment method for about one in seven people, and the amount of cash in circulation continues to rise, reaching £91.5 billion at the end of February 2026.
