TWENTY-one captive bred juvenile sand lizards were released at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) Farnham Heath nature reserve as part of Amphibian & Reptile Conservation’s (ARC) long-term conservation project.

Due to widespread habitat losses across the UK, sand lizards now only occur naturally in Surrey and Dorset on sandy heathland, and further north in Merseyside.

ARC is working in partnership with the RSPB to restore the UK’s rarest lizard to this part of its historic range.

Ralph Connolly, field officer and volunteer coordinator for ARC, said: “While the RSPB’s focus on Farnham Heath is obviously on rare ground nesting birds like woodlark and nightjar, this is a wonderful example of how good habitat management and cooperation between wildlife conservation organisations can benefit a whole range of species.”

Sand lizards are believed to have been lost from the Farnham Heath site when the land was planted up with a commercial conifer crop after the Second World War.

This is the first in a three-year programme of releases.

Ralph continued: “If you are lucky you may see them basking on south-facing heather banks.

“Please note however that these animals are protected by law and it is an offence to disturb them in the wild.”

For volunteering opportunities email [email protected], or call 07387 261217.