Churchill is to be replaced by wildlife at the Bank of England under new design plans

Sir Winston Churchill and other historical figures now featured on British currency are to be replaced by wild animals under plans announced by the Bank of England following a nationwide public consultation.

The central bank has confirmed that the future designs of the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes will focus on animals, birds and other aspects of the natural world, marking a significant departure from more than half a century of celebrating historical figures on UK currency.

Figures that could eventually disappear from circulation include wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, novelist Jane Austen, landscape painter JMW Turner, and mathematician Alan Turing.

While the historical images will gradually be phased out, the king will continue to appear on the back of all British banknotes.

The change follows a major public consultation carried out by the Bank of England to decide what theme should appear on the next generation of notes.

According to the bank, more than 44,000 people participated in the consultation, and almost 60 percent of respondents chose nature and wildlife as their favorite theme for future notes.

Other themes considered include buildings and landmarks (56 percent), historical figures (38 percent), arts, culture and sports (30 percent), innovation (23 percent) and notable events (19 percent).

Victoria Cleland, governor of the Bank of England, said the restructuring was driven by security considerations but also provided an opportunity to show Britain’s identity in a different way.

“The main goal of introducing a new series of paper money is to increase the level of consistency of counterfeiting,” he said. “But it also provides an opportunity to celebrate the different aspects of the UK. Nature is a great choice for authenticating banknotes and means we can showcase the UK’s rich and diverse wildlife.”

The Bank of England said nature-themed images offer advantages in the fight against counterfeiting, as detailed images of animals, birds and landscapes are difficult to illegally reproduce.

Future notes will incorporate the latest anti-counterfeiting technology and sophisticated visual designs, making them more secure than existing polymer papers.

The redesign process is expected to take several years, and the new series is unlikely to start airing until the late 2020s after extensive testing, design development and production preparations.

A panel of experts has been assembled to create a shortlist of wildlife species that could be included in the new currency before the final selection is put to a public vote.

The team includes filmmakers and wildlife presenters Gordon Buchanan, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Nadeem Perera, as well as conservation experts including Katy Bell from Ulster Wildlife and academics Steve Ormerod and Dawn Scott.

The group will identify animals and natural scenes that reflect the diversity of ecosystems in the UK’s four counties.

Perera said wildlife was deeply connected to British identity and culture.

“The UK’s wildlife is inseparable from our culture, it lives in our football grounds, our history, our coastline and our friendships,” he said. “Giving it space for something as symbolic as our currency feels outdated and important.”

Despite the changes to the reverse side of the notes, the sovereign will continue to appear on all Bank of England currency.

Royal portraits have appeared on British coins for over a thousand years, with Queen Elizabeth II appearing on banknotes from the 1960s onwards.

The Bank has confirmed that these new projects will maintain this long-standing tradition.

The Bank of England has previously been criticized for the lack of variety of figures displayed on its notes.

Since historical figures were first introduced on paper money in the 1970s, there have been no representations of Black people or ethnic minorities.

The move to nature-themed images avoids debates about which historical figures to include and instead highlights the landscape and wildlife.

Future designs may also incorporate plants, habitats and landscapes around animals to create complex and unique visual themes.

The creation of a new series of paper money is a long process that includes design competitions, security tests and approval by the leadership of the Bank of England.

A shortlist of wildlife candidates is expected to be revealed later this year, with final approval pending with Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England.

Once the design process is complete, the notes will enter the testing and printing phase before being gradually distributed.

If approved, the next generation of British currency will represent a dramatic visual change, replacing some of the country’s most recognizable historical images with images of the natural world.