Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Wildlife, nature & conservation

Passionate about wildlife, nature and conservation? Join our community to share sightings, discuss environmental issues, and swap tips for protecting the planet and its creatures.

British wildlife on new banknotes - shortlist revealed

69 replies

kinkytoes · 03/06/2026 07:32

Would love to know your thoughts!

Will you be voting? What are your top 6?

I'm still struggling to decide!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgzrpe6mzjo

A composite picture featuring an Atlantic puffin on a rock, a pine marten and a bumblebee on a plant.

Puffin and bumblebee among 18 creatures shortlisted to feature on banknotes

The Bank of England is asking the public which animals should appear on future banknotes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgzrpe6mzjo

OP posts:
JustAMiddleAgedDirtBagBaby · 03/06/2026 11:51

TheKittenswithMittens · 03/06/2026 11:39

Our wildlife is dull compared to other countries. I think if we can't have people, we should have gone for buildings. Most of the animals chosen are pests.

Is it dull or are we just used to it? I think a lot of British wildlife is absolutely stunning when you look properly at it - goldfinches are a good example, stunning birds. And some of the hawk moth species, gorgeous. The iridescent colours on starlings and magpies when you look closely, beautiful.

TheKittenswithMittens · 03/06/2026 11:54

Why bother, we can't match this. We have picked a theme in which we are one of the worst countries in the world.

British wildlife on new banknotes - shortlist revealed
BoEAnonymous · 03/06/2026 11:54

MyAutumnCrow · 03/06/2026 08:55

‘What is your gender?’ No opinion for putting your sex. Just twaddle.

Then sexual orientation. Then impairments, but without allowing for additional quantitative or qualitative data to be added.

Thanks, BBC and Bank of England, for showing us you’re wasting our money still on DEI claptrap. Just like the waste-of-money census question.

Please do complain about it. The Bank is slowly realising that sex is the measure, not gender identity, but I’m not sure who will have looked at this survey prior to launch.

kinkytoes · 03/06/2026 11:58

TheKittenswithMittens · 03/06/2026 11:39

Our wildlife is dull compared to other countries. I think if we can't have people, we should have gone for buildings. Most of the animals chosen are pests.

I think you may have stumbled upon the wrong forum 😅

OP posts:
Rainumbrellarainwellys · 03/06/2026 12:00

I was just about to say what about moths and spiders or even field mice but suppose they are not as popular.

I voted for Hedgehog, hare, bee, puffin, owl. All for very different reasons.

But agree sad no Robin

Londonmummy66 · 03/06/2026 12:03

Hare and pine marten; puffin and barn owl; dragonfly and butterfly - basically the ones I would most like to see in the flesh.

FoxRedPuppy · 03/06/2026 12:07

I’ve seen loads of puffins, but hardly ever see foxes. depends where you live.

I think our wildlife is amazing, and I say that as someone who has travelled in Sourthern Africa and Central America!

Agapornis · 03/06/2026 13:01

Erin1975 · 03/06/2026 10:53

The hedgehog and the curlew need to get a PR consultant. European - Eurasian!!!

Won't be popular with the Brexiteers.

Wait until they find out about migrating animals 😁

Let's vote for the migrants: dolphin & seal, puffin & curlew & eagle, and salmon & shark.

Erin1975 · 03/06/2026 14:01

TheKittenswithMittens · 03/06/2026 11:54

Why bother, we can't match this. We have picked a theme in which we are one of the worst countries in the world.

Oh I dunno. Our national animals are a Lion, a Unicorn and a Dragon. That's pretty fierce.

Melarus · 03/06/2026 14:40

TheKittenswithMittens · 03/06/2026 11:39

Our wildlife is dull compared to other countries. I think if we can't have people, we should have gone for buildings. Most of the animals chosen are pests.

Buildings are pests IMO

grannyjacob · 03/06/2026 20:39

Hare, Seal, Owl, Kingfisher, Frog, Butterfly were my choices.

lljkk · 03/06/2026 20:56

I voted hare+seal; barn owl+kingfisher (would have liked skylark!); salmon+bumblebee

SirChenjins · 03/06/2026 21:02

That's like asking parents to pick their favourite child 😲

kinkytoes · 03/06/2026 21:14

SirChenjins · 03/06/2026 21:02

That's like asking parents to pick their favourite child 😲

😂

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 04/06/2026 07:22

I think they need to be rare enough that seeing them brings extra joy, but not so rare that most people have no connection with them.

I pity people who don't get joy from seeing a hedgehog, kingfisher or butterfly.

kinkytoes · 04/06/2026 16:21

I changed my mind sooooo many times before voting. In the end I went for those which I thought would translate best visually to a banknote.

Hare
Pine marten
Kingfisher
Woodpecker
Dragonfly
Butterfly

It's a shame that only four will ultimately be successful (and one of those won't be seen by most people).

OP posts:
kinkytoes · 04/06/2026 16:23

Oh, and I do hope they share the demographic info. Can't wait to hear what the non-binaries voted for! 🤫

OP posts:
Justchillinhere · 08/06/2026 20:32

Seal puffin bee 🤞 love this

Igneococcus · 08/06/2026 20:38

DPotter · 03/06/2026 10:34

No badger ?
No robin ? What's more iconic than a robin ?
No vole ?
No red kite ? - one of the best re-introduction success stories
No otters ?
No deer ? - and there's lots of choose from there

Never in a million years would I have thought of including a dolphin - and I do come from the coast!

Edited

Otters are already on a Scottish banknote.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page