The Bank of England announced on October 7 that four native UK animals will serve as the central images on the next series of £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes.

The selected species are the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog. The barn owl, bumblebee and hedgehog topped public votes in their respective categories of birds, insects and mammals, while the puffin was added to represent marine life and the British coastline.

Nearly 500,000 people participated in the consultation, casting more than 2.5 million votes on a shortlist of 18 animals. The new designs will replace the current reverse-side images of historical figures, including Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 note, Jane Austen on the £10, JMW Turner on the £20 and Alan Turing on the £50.

The Bank said the change aims to enhance security features that make the notes harder to counterfeit and to celebrate UK wildlife. A portrait of the reigning monarch will continue to appear on one side of each note.

The decision follows an earlier public consultation in which nature emerged as the most popular theme for future banknote imagery. The full rollout of the new series will take several years, as the Bank must complete design, testing and printing processes.

The move drew criticism from some politicians earlier in the year when the shift away from historical figures was first signaled. Reform UK figures, including leader Nigel Farage, objected to removing images of leaders like Churchill in favor of wildlife.

No decision has been made on which animal will appear on which denomination. The notes will also incorporate additional natural elements, potentially including other shortlisted species.

Current banknotes featuring historical figures will remain in circulation until the new series gradually replaces them.