OUR SOUTH WEST Home Page    Millennium Archive Home Page

Species Sand lizard - Lacerta agilis, reptile
Habitat SAND DUNES, SEA CLIFF AND SLOPE, LOWLAND HEATHLAND
Background and status The South West now has a sizeable proportion of the UK’s population of sand lizards, with the heathlands of the Poole basin, now accounting for 90 per cent of Britain’s total. In the South West there are 230 sand lizard sites, and a futher seven potential sites have been identified. The sand lizard is believed to have become extinct in Devon and Cornwall as well the New Forest part of Wiltshire, but re-introduction schemes have brought the sand lizards back to one site each in Devon and Cornwall.
Main Threats The devastating loss and fragmentation of heathland has had a serious effect on the sand lizard. The abandonment of some heaths, leading to encroachment by invasive gorse, bracken, birch and shallon, has altered the character of some heaths, making them unsuitable for this reptile. Sand lizard populations near housing developments have also suffered from damage from human activities, such as mountain biking, refuse dumping and deliberate arson attacks. A shortage of suitable breeding sand on heathland sites has also led to a decrease.
Conservation and targets

Maintain all breeding populations at current levels and enhance where possible.

The plan to re-introduce sand lizards to 10 former sites across the South West will continue.

The heathland restoration work, such as tree felling and bracken clearance, by conservation groups, including the RSPB, will inevitably help this sensitive species.

All reptiles, including sand lizards, are susceptible to heathland fires. Work to create fire breaks in heathland and increased public awareness of the risk of heathland fires will help this species.

It is hoped all sand lizard sites are made known to local planning authorities so that development plans do not further affect this species.