Bank of England panel shortlists wildlife for new banknotes

The Bank of England's expert panel is tasked with shaping a shortlist of UK native wildlife for new banknote imagery, which the public will vote on this summer.

This follows a July 2025 public consultation that garnered over 44,000 responses, with a notable enthusiasm for nature and wildlife.

The panel was reminded that effective banknote design balances security, usability, durability, and accessibility with the representation of cultural and national identity.

Security features, for instance, are most impactful when seamlessly integrated with easily recognisable images.

The discussion also covered the comprehensive stages of banknote production, from initial theme and imagery selection to the development of security features, detailed design, manufacturing, and final issuance, ensuring a holistic approach to the new series.

The panel established key criteria for wildlife nominations: selections must be wild, varied, symbolic of the UK, distinctive, recognisable, and inclusive.

Members supported a habitat and taxonomy-based framework to ensure broad representation across urban, rural, freshwater, and coastal environments, with specific calls for birds and insects.

Discussion also focused on incorporating conservation status, potentially highlighting endangered species.

This approach, however, requires careful balancing with public recognisability and the animals' suitability for banknote authentication.

The Bank confirmed that the final shortlist must reflect the UK's diverse wildlife, considering multiple species of a given animal if appropriate for design.