{
  "id": 12769526,
  "title": "Barn owls, bees, puffins and hedgehogs to feature on UK banknotes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/barn-owls-bees-puffins-and-hedgehogs-to-feature-on-uk-banknotes",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-08T03:00:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-08-barn-owls-bees-puffins-and-hedgehogs-to-feature-on-uk-banknotes/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "LONDON, October 8 (Reuters) - The Bank of England announced on Thursday that barn owls, bumblebees, puffins, and hedgehogs will grace new banknotes over the coming years, marking a departure from featuring historical figures like Winston Churchill. The decision, made in March, sparked debate among politicians and speculation about the central bank's motivations. The move was intended to make banknotes more distinctive and secure against counterfeiting, following a public consultation where nearly half a million people voted on 18 animal options. The buff-tailed bumblebee emerged as the most popular choice, closely followed by the barn owl and European hedgehog. To ensure representation of marine life, the Atlantic puffin was included despite receiving fewer votes. BoE Chief Cashier Victoria Cleland expressed delight at the high level of public engagement in the wildlife imagery consultation, highlighting the enduring relevance of cash despite its declining usage. The £5 note featuring Churchill, introduced in 2016, will be the first to be replaced, followed by £10, £20, and £50 notes showcasing Jane Austen, JMW Turner, and Alan Turing, respectively.",
  "summary": "LONDON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Barn owls, bumblebees, puffins and hedgehogs will feature on new Bank of England banknotes over the coming years, replacing World War Two leader Winston Churchill and other historic figures, the Bank of England said on Thursday.",
  "key_points": [
    "Barn owls, bees, puffins, and hedgehogs to appear on new UK banknotes.",
    "Public consultation with nearly half a million votes selected the animals.",
    "£5 note featuring Winston Churchill to be replaced first."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Bank of England's shift to featuring wildlife on banknotes, starting with replacement of the £5 note, marks a change in the currency's design approach, moving away from historical figures.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}