Bank of England to replace historic figures with wildlife on new British banknotes

The Bank of England disclosed plans to introduce a new family of banknotes showcasing British wildlife, such as a hedgehog, barn owl, common buzzard and Atlantic puffin, instead of historic individuals. The selection followed a summer consultation that prioritized natural imagery for the currency redesign. Consequently, portraits of Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, painter William Turner and mathematician Alan Turing will be phased out of the £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations.

Rhys Phillips, the upcoming head of note issuance, said the bank will now move to design, testing and production, integrating advanced security features and modern material science. The redesign will retain the image of King Charles III, and existing notes with Queen Elizabeth II will continue to be valid. The rollout is expected to take several years before the new notes enter circulation.