Some say 'animal underdogs' have been left off the shortlist, which is now open to a public vote.
Historical figures like Winston Churchill will soon be replaced by native wildlife on UK banknotes.
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In a public consultation run by the Bank of England, the theme of nature came out on top. The exact plants and animals that will be on the notes will be chosen later this year.
“Nature is more than just scenery, it is the living thread that binds our landscapes, our history, and our future together,” says Scottish wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan, who is part of an expert panel that has compiled the list, which is currently open to votes from the public. “To protect nature is to protect the quiet, resilient heartbeat of the land itself.”
Not only could the new notes inspire wildlife conservation, they’re also well positioned to protect the economy.
“The key driver for introducing a new banknote series is always to increase counterfeit resilience,” says Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England.
“Nature is a great choice from a banknote authentication perspective,” she adds, because it lends itself to developing security features that are easy for the public to recognise and distinguish.
Symbolic recognition of UK wildlife ‘overdue and significant’
Nature was the most popular theme among 44,000 respondents in the July 2025 consultation, capturing 60 per cent of the vote.
It will replace the current historical figures featured on the reverse side of banknotes, which include writer Jane Austen, artist JMW Turner and scientist Alan Turing, as well as the WWII Prime Minister.
“This is a powerful reminder of how deeply people feel connected to and value British wildlife,” says Ali Fisher, founder and director of sustainability consultancy Plans with Purpose. “It’s a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity literally in all our hands.”
Architecture and Landmarks was the second most popular at 56 per cent, followed by Notable Historical Figures (38 per cent), Arts, Culture and Sport (30 per cent), Innovation (23 per cent) and Noteworthy Milestones (19 per cent).
“The wildlife of the UK is not separate from our culture. It sits in our football crests, our folklore, our coastlines and our childhoods,” says wildlife presenter and activist Nadeem Perera, another panel member. “Giving it space on something as symbolic as our currency feels both overdue and significant.”
Which animals could feature on the new banknotes?
The RSPA has called for Britain's "least-loved" wildlife – such as pigeons, gulls and foxes – to feature on the new banknotes. The charity said this could help change perceptions of "misunderstood" animals and encourage people to see the value of all wildlife.
“What about the pigeons who have been our friends for thousands of years, or rats, with their amazing memories, or even gulls, with their amazing levels of intelligence?," says Geoff Edmond, wildlife expert at the RSPCA. "They are all fascinating wild animals in their own right – and deserve recognition too.”
While pigeons and rats didn't make the final cut, the red fox is an option alongside the pine marten, grey seal, European hedgehog, brown hare and bottlenose dolphin.
In the birds category, voters can choose between the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker and white-tailed eagle. While the amphibians, insects and fish line up includes the Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, emperor dragonfly and marsh fritillary butterfly.
"It's great that the Bank of England has pulled together a diverse shortlist... although we would love to see more animal underdogs make the cut," said Dr Ros Clubb, Head of Wild Animals at the RSPCA, following the announcement.
From Norway to Switzerland: Which other European countries champion nature on their notes?
The Bank of England won’t be the first in Europe to give nature a place on its banknotes. Scottish notes already include animals such as mackerel, otters and red squirrels.
Norway’s latest krone series celebrates its long coastline by featuring wave motifs and Atlantic cod and herring.
Switzerland began shifting away from featuring famous personalities on its banknotes in 2016, with wind, water and light among the stars of its ‘many facets of Switzerland’ series. Butterflies, the Alps and dandelion seeds now grace its currency, with a new series set to double-down on native plants and Alpine landscapes in the 2030s.
Nature could also replace architecture on future euro banknotes, with the European Central Bank considering designs featuring birds and rivers across Europe.
Following a contest for EU designers to submit proposals in 2025, the shortlisted themes are ‘Rivers and birds: resilience in diversity’ and ‘European culture: shared cultural spaces’. A final decision is expected to be made in 2026.
“In a cost‑of‑living, climate and nature crisis, small cultural shifts like this matter,” says Fisher. “They help normalise the idea that our natural world is worth celebrating, protecting and investing in.”
