Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Hedgehog Joins Animals Chosen for Future UK Banknotes
The Bank of England plans to put pictures of four UK animals on future banknotes.
They are a puffin, an owl, a bumblebee and a hedgehog.
These animals will take the place of famous people shown on the notes now.
Many people chose nature as their favourite theme in a public survey.
Wildlife experts and about half a million people also helped choose the animals.
Some politicians criticized the plan.
The Bank says the new notes will be harder to copy.
It has not yet decided which animal will appear on each note, and the change will take a few years.
The Bank of England selected an Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog for future banknotes.
The animals will replace historical figures including Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing.
Nature was the most popular theme in an earlier consultation that drew 44,000 responses.
A second consultation considered input from wildlife experts and around half a million members of the public.
The Bank said the new notes will improve security, and introducing them will take a few years.
- Who
- The Bank of England selected four animals for future banknotes.
- What
- Images of an Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog will replace historical figures on the notes.
- When
- The Bank announced the choices this week; introducing the new notes will take a few years.
- Where
- United Kingdom banknotes.
- Why
- The Bank said the animals showcase the variety of UK wildlife and will enhance banknote security.
Support for the animal designs
Criticism of the change
Replacing historical figures
Support for the animal designs
Nature was the most popular theme in the Bank's public consultation, and the Bank said the animals represent UK wildlife and enhance security.
Criticism of the change
The decision drew criticism, particularly from right-leaning politicians; Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called it “the definition of woke.”
- Selected animals
- Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog
- First consultation
- Nature was the most popular theme among 44,000 responses.
- Second consultation
- Included wildlife experts and around half a million members of the public.
- Current banknote figures
- Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing
- Reverse of current notes
- King Charles III appears on the reverse side of all notes.
- Timeline
- The new notes are expected to take a few years to introduce.
- Denominations
- The animal assigned to each denomination has not yet been decided.