Four British animals to feature on new banknotes

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 21:24 · Archive

The Bank of England will replace historical figures on banknotes with the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog.

The Bank of England has announced that four British animals will feature on its next generation of banknotes, replacing the historical figures that have appeared on notes for decades. The Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog were selected following a public vote in which almost half a million people chose their favourites from a shortlist of 18 animals covering mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and fish.

The hedgehog proved the public's favourite mammal with 259,665 selections, whilst the barn owl topped the bird category with 270,596 votes. The buff-tailed bumblebee attracted the most votes overall with 360,399 selections in the category covering amphibians, insects and fish. The Atlantic puffin received 183,137 selections, fewer than the common kingfisher's 211,277, but the Bank of England had warned that the four animals with the highest number of votes would not automatically become the winners, allowing it to select the puffin.

Two of the animals are particularly common in Oxfordshire. Barn owls are widespread across the county, whilst hedgehogs have 803 recorded sightings in the area, with around 30 per cent of Oxfordshire gardens regularly hosting visiting hedgehogs. The first redesigned notes are expected to enter circulation within the next few years, though the Bank has not yet revealed which animal will feature on which denomination.

How it is being reported

• Two popular wild animals in Oxfordshire to appear on new banknotesBritain's banknotes are getting a major makeover, with four much-loved British animals set to replace the famous historical figures.Oxford Mail · 8 Oct, 20:00
• Two popular wild animals in Oxfordshire to appear on new banknotesBritain's banknotes are getting a major makeover, with four much-loved British animals set to replace the famous historical figures.Oxfordshire Guardian · 8 Oct, 20:00

In this story: Bank of England · Oxfordshire

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