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Wed, 07 Oct 2026

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 Hedgehog among four animals chosen to feature on new banknotes

The decision comes after nearly half a million people voted on a shortlist of 18 creatures.

* Four new creatures will feature on UK banknotes: Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee, and European hedgehog.
* The Bank of England has revealed that no decision has been made yet on which animal will be shown on which banknote.
* The owl, bumblebee, and hedgehog were the top choices in their specific categories, with over 2.5 million votes cast by 478,531 people.
* The buff-tailed bumblebee was the clear winner, receiving 360,399 votes.
* The Atlantic puffin was included to celebrate marine life and bring variety to the notes.
* Wildlife is replacing notable figures from history on UK banknotes, including Sir Winston Churchill, which has angered some politicians.