Habitat management for reptiles

HABITAT MANAGEMENT ADVICE

Reptile Habitat Management:
further information

Reptiles don't need to be tidy!
If possible avoid the temptation to over tidy a site. Some disused industrial sites ('brownfield sites') are very important for reptiles - the disturbed ground and uneven structures provide ideal habitat conditions.

Landscape level
Hedgerows provide valuable corridors for helping movement of reptiles. Broad uncultivated margins, or areas along the hedges that are protected from grazing preferably on the sunny side of the hedge, are useful.

Small sites can be valuable for reptiles
Gardens, allotments and school grounds can all be managed to benefit reptiles. Connections between these area with nearby 'countryside' or with other gardens are important for encouraging colonisation and for sustaining populations.
For more information about encouraging reptiles onto smaller sites see our Dragons in your Garden campaign. >>>

Successional habitats
Naturally, over time, different areas will become suitable as others become unsuitable. Managing such dynamic successional habitats over time can ensure long term survival of populations. However, you need to ensure sufficient connectivity within the site and sufficient time for newly created areas to develop as optimal habitat. Trees, both on and adjacent to reptile areas, can cause shade; ground plants such as bracken and bramble may need to be managed (often involving pesticides, through mechanical management is possible) to prevent heavy shading at ground level and loss of the ground vegetation important for providing the varied habitat structure.

Timing
This Heathland Management Calendar can help guide the timing of management work to avoid detrimental impacts on reptiles. (Originally produced in the 1990s by the Dorset Heathland Forum). >>>