Biodiversity on British currency is set to become a reality after 60% of 44,000 public consultation respondents chose nature as the theme for the UK’s next banknote series.
The Bank of England is set to place biodiversity on British currency for the first time, replacing historical figures with native plants and animals on its banknotes.
After a public consultation involving 44,000 respondents, nature emerged as the clear favorite, earning support from 60% of participants. That is a strong mandate, and it signals how deeply the British public values its natural world.
The Bank of England ran the consultation in July 2025 to determine what theme should replace the historical figures currently featured on the reverse side of notes. Those figures include writer Jane Austen, artist JMW Turner, scientist Alan Turing, and wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The specific plants and animals to appear on the new notes will be selected later this year.
The decision to feature biodiversity on British currency is about more than aesthetics. The Bank of England’s chief cashier, Victoria Cleland, noted that the primary reason for introducing a new banknote series is always to improve counterfeit resilience. Nature imagery effectively supports that goal by enabling distinctive, easy-to-spot security features for public verification.
What makes this shift meaningful is the combination of purposes it serves. The new notes can raise awareness of wildlife conservation while also strengthening the financial system. That is a rare opportunity to do two important things at once.
An expert panel is helping to guide the selection of species. Scottish wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan is among its members and has spoken about the deep connection between nature and the land. Wildlife presenter and activist Nadeem Perera is also on the panel and pointed out that British wildlife already appears in football crests, folklore, and coastal culture. Placing biodiversity on British currency is a recognition that nature has always been part of national identity.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has made an interesting case for including less glamorous species. The charity is calling for pigeons, gulls, rats, and foxes to be considered alongside more celebrated animals. The RSPCA argues that these creatures are often misunderstood and that featuring them on banknotes could shift public perception.
Pigeons, for example, have lived alongside humans for thousands of years, and rats are known for their strong memory. Gulls, often dismissed as nuisances, demonstrate remarkable intelligence. Giving these animals a place in everyday notes could quietly change how people think about urban wildlife.
This move to put biodiversity on British currency is not without precedent in Europe. Scottish banknotes already carry images of mackerel, otters, and red squirrels. Norway’s currency series celebrates its coastline with Atlantic cod, herring, and wave patterns. Switzerland moved away from featuring famous personalities on its banknotes in 2016 and now features butterflies, Alpine landscapes, and dandelion seeds. A new Swiss series planned for the 2030s will go further with native plants and mountain scenery.
The European Central Bank is also exploring this direction. Following a design contest in 2025, two themes are being considered for future euro banknotes: one featuring rivers and birds across Europe, and another focused on shared cultural spaces. A final decision is expected this year. That means biodiversity on British currency could become part of a wider European movement to normalize nature in everyday financial life.
Sustainability consultancy director Ali Fisher described the move as a chance to put biodiversity literally into everyone’s hands. In a period marked by economic pressure, climate concerns, and declining wildlife populations, small but visible changes in everyday life can help shift how people think about the natural world.
When people handle money daily, the images on those notes carry quite an influence. A child recognizing a red squirrel or an Atlantic puffin on a banknote may grow up with a stronger sense of connection to wildlife. That connection can translate into support for conservation over time.
The UK joining other European nations in celebrating nature on its currency is a practical and symbolic step forward. It reflects what the public actually values, strengthens the security of the financial system, and gives biodiversity on British currency a permanent place in daily life where it can be seen, recognized, and appreciated by everyone.
