The puffin and bumblebee were among 18 animals chosen to appear on British banknotes.

Until the end of July, Britons will be able to vote for their favorite candidates. You can choose up to two types from each category. At the same time, you cannot offer your own options – the organizers decided to avoid comic campaigns and frivolous applications. Bank of England Chief Cashier Victoria Cleland expressed the hope that the public will take part with interest in discussing the design of the new banknotes.

The mammal category included bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, gray seal, marten and red fox. Birds include Atlantic puffin, barn owl, kingfisher, curlew, great spotted woodpecker and white-tailed eagle. The third group included Atlantic salmon, basking shark, rufous-tailed bumblebee, common frog, emperor dragonfly and swamp fritillaria butterfly.

The list of candidates was compiled by an expert commission that included wildlife experts, TV presenters and scientists. However, the final choice will remain with the head of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, even if the opinions of the public and the bank’s management do not coincide.