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Our
amphibians and reptiles depend on a variety of habitats to
survive. To help these species flourish we need to ensure that
their habitat needs are fully met, hopefully to a 5 star
standard!
From woodlands to waterways, many of our more widespread species
can be found in just about any semi-natural habitat in just
about anywhere in the country. More human-made places also offer
very important habitat opportunities: roadside verges, railway
embankments, allotments, school grounds, parks and of course,
gardens. These places often provide people with the exciting
chance to see our species up close.
Through our online Frogwatch survey to face to face meetings at
shows and events we hear from you how common frogs, smooth and
palmate newts, and slow-worms have all become a staple component
of the wildlife in our gardens and other green open spaces.
But some of our species are more specialised and have come to
rely on one particular habitat over others. If the habitat
disappears, so do the creatures that rely on it. Smooth snakes
and sand lizards both depend on heathland habitat: there’s very
little of this left and so it follows, there are very few smooth
snakes and sand lizards. Whilst other agencies and organisations
have focussed on these species much of our habitat management
work to date has focussed on ponds: what our frogs, toads and
newts can’t live without
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