Over the last three years conservationists have been giving the UK's rarest lizard a helping hand. Captive bred sand lizards have been released on to the Fylde Sand Dunes as part of a long-term conservation project to restore the species’ status and historic range within the UK.

Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (ARC), Fylde and Blackpool Councils, Fylde and North Merseyside Amphibian Groups (ARGs), Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Natural England have teamed up to safeguard the future of these magnificent lizards. 

Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Fylde and Blackpool Council and the Environment Agency have been working in Partnership since 2013 on the Starr Hill Sand Dunes Environmental Works. This project received approval from the Environment Agency for a grant in aid funding to undertake dune management work in line with the sand dunes management plan and as described in the Fylde Coast protection strategy for the policy of hold line. The plan includes dune accretion, habitat improvement and monitoring. 

The additional benefits of this project (in addition to coast protection) are that habitat is protected and created and this has led to the sand lizards being able to be reintroduced.  

In the UK, sand lizards only live on two rare habitats; sand-dune and lowland dry heath. Due to vast historic losses, and fragmentation of these habitats via development and land use change, the species has been lost from north and west Wales, Cheshire, Kent, Sussex, Berkshire, Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall. Native populations now only remain in Merseyside, Surrey, and Dorset - though even here, losses of 97%, 95% and 90% have occurred respectively.

Due to these losses, the sand lizard is part of the Amphibian and Reptiles Conservation’s Biodiversity Action Plan. This has three main aims - protect the sites as nature reserves where the species occurs, to manage these sites to maintain and restore suitable conditions for sand lizards and to re-introduce sand lizards to managed sites in their former historic range.

Currently there are two captive breeding centres for the Sefton sand lizards managed by Ray Lynch and Paul Hudson (Fylde and North Merseyside ARGs). These centres have outdoor enclosures that mimic the sand lizard's natural dune environment. The captive bred juveniles have been released on to the Fylde Sand Dunes in early September each year to allow the animals to gradually get used to their new home before they hibernate in October.

The sand lizard – the UK’s largest and rarest lizard

The sand lizard is only found on two rare habitats in the UK; sand dunes and lowland dry heath. Even on these habitats the animals will only use certain areas and will only be found in areas facing predominantly south, towards the sun. These habitats are now fragmented by e.g. housing, fields, forests, etc. that the species cannot live on so colonisation of other habitats is severely restricted. On dunes the species prefers “frontal” dune ridges dominated by Marram grass. On heaths the species prefers ridges, slopes, etc. dominated by areas of mature heath that has both cover and open areas. In both habitats open areas of sand are essential for laying their eggs.

Sand lizards are active from late March – late October. Males emerge from hibernation from late March onwards followed by younger animals then females. Breeding occurs in May. Egg-laying along sandy tracks and other open areas of sand occurs in early June. Juveniles emerge from their eggs in August and early September. Hibernation occurs in September for adults and late October for juveniles. Sand lizards are insectivorous and generalist feeders.

Due to vast habitat loss, primarily during the twentieth century, natural populations became extinct in: Kent, Sussex, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall, Cheshire and north and west Wales. Further substantial losses of 97%, 95% and 90% were observed in Merseyside, Surrey and Dorset respectively. The remaining colonies are mostly on fragmented areas of heath or dune that are often small, isolated and surrounded by woodland and plantations, urban development, mineral extraction, etc.

Due to these losses the sand lizard was considered sufficiently endangered to receive protection through both national and international legislation. It is also listed as a priority species for conservation action in the United Kingdom. The sand lizard is currently part of the United Kingdom’s Species Action Plan, which is trying to protect and restore the sand lizard’s status. This work is funded by Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Amphibian & Reptile Conservation.

Before the species can be re-introduced to a site it must be established that the species is not already present. Surveys over 5 years are undertaken to establish that the species is not already present. Habitat management is often also necessary to make certain that all of the species needs are catered for. This management often entails the removal of invasive trees from the site, bracken management, fire-breaking and sand management (for egg-laying). 

Captive breeding facilities try to emulate the species natural habitats i.e. dune or heath. They are constructed outdoors and are predominantly south facing to catch the sun. Egg-laying areas are provided and the eggs are removed as soon as possible after they are laid and then artificially incubated. This type of incubation allows for earlier emergence than in the wild and allows the young to increase their body mass allowing them a better chance to survive their first hibernation.

The releases are undertaken in early September and phased through three years. On average c.50 captive-bred juveniles are released each year. This has been found to be sufficient to establish a structured population. Animals to be released are moved in well-ventilated, escape-proof boxes. Keeping the animals in cool, dark and damp conditions reduces stress and dehydration. Where possible the animals are released in warm and sunny weather conditions, this allows them to adapt to the site conditions gradually.

To date there have been 76 sand lizard reintroductions (66% have been successful, 13.8% are ongoing and doing well, 13.8% have been successful then damaged due to habitat loss (mainly via large summer fires), 3% failed due to poor habitat choice at release area and at 3% the status is currently unknown). The reintroduction programme has successfully returned the species (c.9000 animals) to both dune and heathland habitats to 12 Vice-Counties in England and Wales, in 7 of these counties the species had been lost.  

For more information contact:

• Fylde Council, geoff.willetts@fylde.gov.uk or andrew.mills@fylde.gov.uk
• Nick Moulton, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, anju.sarpal@arc-trust.org  or nick.moulton@arc-trust.org
• Ray Lynch, Fylde Amphibian and Reptile Group, ray.lynch@hotmail.co.uk