Garden Reptile Survey |
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This survey aims to gather information on the national distribution of reptiles in people’s gardens. Reptiles are less frequently encountered in gardens than amphibians, but you may be familiar with at least one species of snake or lizard. The slow-worm (a legless lizard) is the most likely garden reptile, but the grass snake is a common visitor in some parts of the country, particularly when hunting for fish and amphibians in garden ponds. Common lizards are not often found in gardens, but they have a patchy distribution across the UK, so you may encounter them. Adders are rarely encountered in gardens, and only where there is suitable habitat in the neighbouring countryside. Likewise, sand lizards and smooth snakes could only be encountered in gardens that are adjacent to heathland (or sand dunes occupied by sand lizards in parts of the country where they are found). |
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The Garden Reptile Survey aims to record all species of reptile that may be found in gardens, and should help us build up a picture of distribution across the country, particularly for the slow-worm and grass snake. Slow-worms like long grass and unkempt areas of gardens, and often inhabit compost heaps where they feed on slugs and earthworms. Grass snakes need similarly overgrown habitats, and lay their eggs in compost heaps where the warmth of rotting matter helps their incubation. They may also be seen hunting in garden ponds. Grass snakes investigate gardens opportunistically; in many cases gardens provide ideal habitat and hunting opportunities, particularly large suburban gardens. |
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Whilst the slow-worm is quite secretive and does not usually move far, the grass snake is a very mobile species and can cross large distances. In this sense, it is the reptile most likely to respond to climate change in the UK. Even with the aid of compost heaps, it doesn’t extend its range into Scotland. However, if our climate becomes warmer this situation may change and grass snakes might start moving north into Scotland. We hope this survey can help us to monitor any changes in the future. |
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Common lizards like rough grass, brambles and unkempt areas of gardens, especially where there are piles of twigs, logs, stones and other objects. They can be difficult to spot in dense vegetation, but you may see them basking on objects such as logs and fence-posts that stick up from the vegetation. Like slow-worms, they don’t tend to move more than a few metres most of the time. |
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Adders are a species of ‘wild’ countryside, such as scrub, rough grassland, heathland, moorland, sand dunes, woodland edges and other overgrown and undisturbed areas. The two rarest reptiles in the UK - the sand lizard and the smooth snake - are present only in limited parts of the country where the habitat is suitable. The sand lizard needs areas of dry sandy heathland or coastal sand dunes where the microclimate is suitable, and the sandy substrate allows the females to incubate their eggs. The smooth snake lives only in sandy lowland heathlands and neighbouring habitats. |
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Search the NBN Gateway to find out whether a species of reptile lives in your part of the country. Slow-worms, common lizards and adders are most widespread across Britain, but their occurrence locally depends on the availability of the right type of habitat networks. Grass snakes are widespread in England and Wales but not Scotland. Sand lizards are found in scattered locations in southern England, north Wales and Merseyside, and smooth snakes are only found in a few counties of southern England. |
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Most gardens in the UK are unlikely to have any reptiles at all, particularly if they are enclosed in urban areas. But if your garden neighbours some suitable land that is not built upon, then reptiles could be present. Open countryside is obviously the most likely place for reptiles, although the intensively-farmed landscape is generally not good for reptiles. In such a landscape, reptiles tend to be marginalised to overgrown areas such as hedgerows and rough pasture. Even where there is no open countryside nearby, reptiles may be found in urban and suburban environments. Brownfield sites, railway lines, graveyards and other places where vegetation is typically overgrown can be surprisingly good reptile sites. |
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You can make your garden more reptile-friendly by leaving overgrown areas. As reptiles are quite difficult to spot, the best way to find them is to lay down a few pieces of scrap corrugated iron, roofing felt or rubber mats to act as ‘refugia’. If reptiles are present, they may hide under these refugia to warm up in safety. So if you carefully lift them on a sunny morning, or even in warm cloudy weather, you may be lucky enough to find a slow-worm or even a grass snake. Always take great care in case there are adders present, especially in long vegetation, and never put your hands where you can’t see them. |
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It is important to identify reptile species correctly before you submit your records. You can use the identification guide to help you correctly identify reptiles. |
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