For more than half a century, if you pulled a British banknote out of your wallet, you'd find a piece of history looking back at you. Charles Darwin on the ten-pound note. Jane Austen. J.M.W. Turner. Winston Churchill.
Starting with the next series of banknotes, something beautiful will take their place: **the living wildlife of Britain itself**.
The **Bank of England confirmed in March 2026** that its upcoming banknote series will feature images of the UK's native wildlife — the first time in over 50 years that the iconic portraits of historical figures will give way to a different kind of British icon. The portrait of King Charles III will remain on one side, as is standard for UK currency, but the reverse side will celebrate the country's rich and varied natural heritage.
**The Public Spoke, and the Bank Listened**
The decision followed an open public consultation held in July 2025, which drew over **44,000 responses** from members of the public. The theme of nature received the **highest proportion of nominations** — and within the nature theme, the feedback was clear: people wanted wildlife *native to the UK* specifically.
Focus groups commissioned by the Bank reinforced the same message. Respondents felt that wildlife imagery would resonate more deeply than generic landscapes, and would create banknotes that are visually distinctive, emotionally meaningful, and genuinely celebratory of the country.
Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, said the feedback demonstrated 'how much the British public value and cherish the wildlife that shares our islands.'
**A Panel of Experts, Then a Public Vote**
The Bank is now assembling a panel of **wildlife experts** to develop a shortlist of candidate species — considering factors like ecological significance, visual impact, regional representation, and the practical needs of banknote security design.
Once the shortlist is ready, a **second public consultation is expected in summer 2026**, giving members of the public a chance to vote on which specific British species they would like to see on their money.
The possibilities are extraordinary. Britain is home to red squirrels and pine martens, puffins and barn owls, red kites soaring over Welsh valleys, bottlenose dolphins off the Scottish coast, and great crested newts lurking in village ponds. Each region has its champions; each species has its story.
**More Than Decoration**
There's something quietly powerful about what this decision represents.
For over fifty years, British banknotes have honoured the past — the scientists, writers, and statespeople who shaped national identity. Those are meaningful choices. But choosing wildlife for the next chapter says something too: that Britain's identity is inseparable from its landscape and its living creatures, and that protecting them is a matter of national pride.
The UK has set legally binding targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Rewilding projects are returning beavers and white-tailed eagles to landscapes that lost them centuries ago. The red kite — once reduced to a handful of breeding pairs in Wales — now soars over much of England.
Putting wildlife on every banknote in every wallet in the country is a small act. But symbols matter. They tell us what a society values.
**When Will We See Them?**
The new banknotes won't appear overnight. The process of design, security testing, and production is complex and typically takes several years. The earliest public glimpse of designs is likely in 2027, with circulation beginning after that.
But the direction has been set. The next time a child asks a parent what's on a ten-pound note, the answer might just be a puffin.
And that seems like a rather good thing. 🦦
*Sources: Bank of England News Release (March 2026) · FStech.co.uk · SecretLdn · MoneyWeek · World Animal Protection*
