Buff-tailed bumblebee. Credit: Kate Jaconello
9 June 2026
The Buff-tailed bumblebee has made the shortlist to feature on the new banknotes … and you can help make it happen!
The Bank of England is designing its next series of banknotes around the theme of UK wildlife, and public votes will help shape the final decision about which animals will be chosen. This is a rare chance to champion a species people love, while shining a spotlight on the vital role pollinators play in our lives.
If there’s one creature that has truly earned its place on a banknote, it’s the Buff-tailed bumblebee. One of the UK’s most common bumblebee species, this brilliant little pollinator would be a charismatic representative of all 24 of our bumblebee species, as well as the many other pollinators we rely on every day.
Why this amazing bumblebee is “noteworthy”
- Bumblebees are absolute powerhouses when it comes to pollination. They help pollinate many of our wildflowers and crops, including plenty of the fruits and vegetables on our plates. And here’s a particularly juicy fact: in the UK, bumblebees are the only insects that can pollinate tomato plants. That’s right: no bumblebees, no tomatoes!
- Buff-tailed bumblebee queens are the largest in the UK. A queen can weigh up to 0.85g, which is exactly the same as a £10 note!
- Pollinators do an astonishing amount of work for free. Replacing their role in farming with hand pollination would cost roughly £1.8 billion. Without bumblebees, many foods would be harder to grow and more expensive to buy.
And there’s another reason this matters: bumblebees need to be noticed because they are in trouble. Across the UK, bumblebee populations have plummeted over time, with two species already lost in the last 100 years, and many others in serious decline today.
There are many reasons for this, including rapidly disappearing flower-rich habitats, pesticide use, and climate change bringing more extreme weather. Giving the Buff-tailed bumblebee a place on a banknote would not just celebrate what these insects do for us, but it would shine a light on why they need protecting too.
Make your vote count
The Buff-tailed bumblebee may be tiny, but it helps keep food on our tables, flowers in our landscapes, and stops farming costs from soaring. This is your chance to keep bumblebees in people’s minds … and wallets! Vote for the Buff-tailed bumblebee, share the campaign far and wide, and help put a true national treasure in the treasury.
Come on … SHOW BEE THE MONEY! Nominate here.