Sand lizards reintroduced in fire-damaged Ash Ranges

According to Surrey Wildlife Trust, the sand lizard is one of the UK’s rarest reptiles and it favours sandy heathland habitats and sand dunes.

Izzy Bridges, ecologist for the Ministry of Defence, which owns the Ash Ranges, said: “The warming climate is really impacting heathland across the UK, which is why reintroduction projects like this are so important.”

Field worker Dave Withall said that the recent reintroduction had been “really successful”.

“It was good to get the lizards down and into the wild,” he added.

“Hopefully they’ll start breeding in the next few years.”

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