Each of the quartet of creatures will feature as the central image of a £5, £10, £20 or £50 note, which will also feature other elements from nature as part of their designs, potentially including other shortlisted animals. The monarch will still feature on the other side of the notes.
Rhys Phillips, the Bank’s incoming chief cashier who will be responsible for the roll-out of the new series of notes, said the process of designing, testing and printing banknotes could take years.
He said the Bank needed to make sure they were high-quality, resilient and accessible. As the designs were only in the very early stages, they would be unveiled closer to their launch.
“We’ll now work to design, test and produce the banknotes, combining the imagery we’ve announced today with cutting-edge security features and materials science,” he said.
Wildlife already appears on banknotes in the UK, with mackerel, otters, red squirrels and osprey featuring on notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland, external.