The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is Britain's rarest lizard, restricted to lowland heathlands in southern England and parts of the Merseyside coast. With an estimated population of only a few tens of thousands, it receives full legal protection and is a priority species for conservation action.
Sand lizards depend on open sandy habitats with a mosaic of bare sand, short vegetation, and heather or grass. They require bare sandy patches for egg-laying (eggs incubate in warm surface sand) and basking, combined with dense vegetation for shelter, thermoregulation, and overwintering. The microclimate provided by this habitat structure is critical — sand lizards are highly sensitive to habitat quality and cannot persist in areas where appropriate structural diversity is absent.
Males develop stunning bright green flanks during the breeding season (April-June), providing one of the most striking colour displays of any British reptile. Females and juveniles are brown with a pattern of dark blotches and pale spots. The visual difference is useful for survey identification. Males display to each other and to females through body posturing and colour presentation.
Sand lizards are protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to intentionally kill, injure, or take a sand lizard, or to damage, destroy, or obstruct their habitat. Development affecting sand lizard populations requires an EPS licence and mitigation, typically including translocation to receptor sites and habitat management.
Natural England coordinates sand lizard conservation through Biodiversity Action Plan targets. Conservation interventions include: