Reptiles general

However the adder, grass snake, slow-worm and common lizard can be seen away from heaths such as on rough grassland alongside paths, forestry plantations, gardens and allotments, but the smooth snake and the sand lizard in this country are only found on heathland and nearby habitats (such as dunes or scrubby areas).  Heaths are excellent for all reptiles because they tend to have warm south-facing sandy banks for them to bask in the sun (they are cold blooded so need to warm up before becoming active), plenty of insects and spiders to eat (and lizards if you are a snake), and places to hibernate.

An ideal reptile heath will have areas of mature heath for reptiles to feed in and have protective cover, bare areas for sand lizards to make their egg tunnels in, water for grass snakes, basking slopes and holes, rock piles, hedgerows or half buried piles of timber for them to hibernate in.

Reptiles spend the winter hibernating often in large numbers together.  By October most will have gone underground in safe holes to spend the winter to re-emerge during March and April when they are best seen as they bask to warm up in the spring sun.

Both the sand lizard and smooth snake are heathland specialists and therefore very rare in the UK.

Smooth Snake

Smooth snakes are only found in Dorset, Hampshire and a few places in Surrey so they are pretty rare.  On top of that they are also difficult to see.  Unlike the adder that will bask quite openly in long grass or heather, the smooth snake tends to sun itself deep under the heather plants where a patch of sun reaches the ground.  They are also really well camouflaged, with a background colour of grey to grey-brown and two rows of small dark brown or black markings down the length of their bodies. Males and females are similar though the females have a much smaller tail than the males.  They are quite a slim snake and usually grow up to 70cm, a similar size to the adder but not as big as some grass snakes that can reach a metre or more.  Adders and grass snakes are much more strongly marked than smooth snakes, the adder with its distinctive zig-zag down the back and V shape on the neck, the grass snake normally with a yellow collar and dark markings on its flanks.  Only the adder has poisonous venom - a smooth snake will bite to defend itself but it has no poison.

Smooth snakes feed largely on other reptiles, generally common and sand lizards and slow-worms.

Smooth snakes mate in spring and in late August (or later) the females lay 'egg sacks' from which the young emerge after a few hours.

You may be lucky enough to find an old skin of a smooth snake even if you do not see the snake itself.  Snakes shed their skins once or twice a year as the old skin gets worn out and the snake grows.  A smooth snake's skin can be separated from other snakes are their scales are smooth - adders and grass snakes have a ridge running along the length of each scale.

Sand Lizard

This is the reptile everyone wants to see.  They are nearly as scarce as the smooth snake - only being found on heaths in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Lancashire.  The sand lizard is unlike the common lizard which is quite slender and sleek: the sand lizard is a stocky lizard with a distinctive deep short head.  They can grow to about 16cm and are strongly marked with a mixture of black, brown and cream in a pattern of spots.  The male in the spring has a striking background colour of bright green, almost a turquoise which fades over the summer, the female being shades of pale brown, sand or grey.  April and May is the best time to see these as the males bask quite openly, often on top of the heather - common lizards can be green but once you have seen a sand lizard you will not confuse the two as the sand lizard is that much chunkier in build.  Sand lizards are also less likely to run away if you approach them quietly and can be seen mating and digging quite happily by the careful observer.  However it must be noted that both the sand lizard and the smooth snake are protected from disturbance by law and should not be intentionally disturbed in any way.

They mate in the spring and in May and June the females dig short tunnels in firm open sand and lay about 5-10 eggs in them which they then bury.  The young hatchlings emerge in August and September and almost immediately have to prepare to hibernate.

Sand lizards form local populations centred around their breeding grounds - sandy banks and track sides.  They often are found on the edges of heaths where there has been disturbed ground or where conservationists have made special bare areas and banks for them.  When not courting they will roam into deep heather and tall grassland around the heath.

All reptiles are sensitive to habitat change and devastating events such as fire, though some can survive quick moving fires.  Their survival in urban areas is only possible by protecting heathlands from damaging activities such as motorcycling, fire and the unchecked growth of gorse and pine.