From Endangered to Legal Tender?

🦔💷 Hedgehogs Are Going on Our Banknotes — Now Let’s Give Them the Protection They Deserve!

Some wonderful news for Britain’s hedgehogs! 🎉

The Bank of England has announced that the European hedgehog is one of four native wildlife species chosen to feature on the next generation of British banknotes, alongside the barn owl, Atlantic puffin and buff-tailed bumblebee.

And there’s even more to celebrate: hedgehogs received an incredible 259,665 votes in the public consultation!

Clearly, Britain still has a huge soft spot for our prickly little neighbours. ❤️

🦔 Meet Hoglet — Our £20 Note Superstar!

To celebrate, we’ve created our own £20 banknote featuring Hoglet, one of the young hedgehogs currently visiting our North Norfolk wildlife garden.

We’ve even appointed Vanlife Volunteers as Chief Cashier! 😂

It’s only a bit of fun, of course, but there’s a serious message behind our design.

💚 Worth £20 on Paper. Priceless in the Wild.

While I’m delighted that hedgehogs are receiving this national recognition, I can’t help seeing the irony.

We’re celebrating hedgehogs on our currency while the animals themselves continue to disappear from much of our countryside.

Habitat loss, fragmented landscapes, road mortality and other human pressures continue to threaten their future.

A picture of a hedgehog on a banknote is a lovely tribute. But it won’t help a hedgehog cross a road safely, reconnect isolated populations or protect the habitats they need to survive.

That’s why this petition matters. 

I’m calling for stronger legal protection for hedgehogs through their inclusion under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 

Hedgehogs already have some legal protections, but I believe they deserve stronger, more comprehensive safeguards.

📣 Let’s Turn Public Affection Into Real Protection!

The Bank of England’s announcement demonstrates just how much the British public values hedgehogs.

Now we need that affection to translate into meaningful conservation action.

If hundreds of thousands of people can vote to put a hedgehog on a banknote, surely we can persuade the Government to do more to protect them in the wild?

Please help by sharing this petition, encouraging friends and family to sign, and keeping the plight of Britain’s hedgehogs in the public eye.

📰 Read the Bank of England announcement: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2026/october/boe-announces-the-four-animals-that-will-feature-on-next-series-of-banknotes

Thank you for supporting our campaign and helping to give hedgehogs a voice.

Let’s make sure future generations can enjoy real hedgehogs in their gardens — not just pictures of them in their wallets! 🦔💷

Maggie
Van Life Volunteers
Travel Light. Do Good. Stay Wild.

💧 Remember to water your wildlife!