Britain is changing its money. The figures on English banknotes will be replaced with images of British animals

The Bank of England announced Thursday that new British banknotes will feature images of animals and elements of nature instead of figures such as Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, William Turner and Alan Turing. The decision was made following a public consultation in which approximately 500,000 Britons took part.

The new banknotes will feature the puffin, barn owl, buff-tailed bumblebee and European hedgehog. The animals were selected from a list of 18 options following the consultation held this summer. An initial consultation conducted last year had already established that British fauna and flora would become the central elements of the new banknote series.

The project sparked controversy in British political circles after reports suggested that Winston Churchill could be replaced on the £5 note by images of a badger or an otter. Jane Austen, William Turner and Alan Turing will gradually disappear from the £10, £20 and £50 notes.

The Bank of England will begin designing, testing and producing the new banknotes, which will include modern security features and advanced technologies. The process will take several years. The banknotes will retain the portrait of King Charles III, while those bearing the likeness of Queen Elizabeth II will remain legal tender.