Britain's next banknotes will star a puffin, an owl, a bumblebee and a hedgehog

The Bank of England announced the four animals that will feature on its next series of banknotes: the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog — chosen by the public from a shortlist of 18 in the Bank's largest-ever imagery consultation, with 478,531 responses and more than 2.5 million selections. The bumblebee won the most votes overall (360,399); the barn owl led the birds (270,596), the hedgehog the mammals (259,665), and the puffin was picked as the most popular marine animal to celebrate Britain's coastline. Since 1970 the notes have showcased historical figures such as Churchill, Austen, Turner and Turing; the new series, years away from launch, keeps the monarch on the other side.