Supporting the recovery of England's rarest amphibians and reptiles through government partnership and investment

By Jenny Griffiths

Published June 23, 2026 

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Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is proud to be a partner in the latest round of Natural England Species Recovery Programme grants, which have announced £60 million of government investment to help recover some of England's most threatened wildlife.
The funding, announced as part of the Government's Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife initiative, will support 130 projects benefiting 364 threatened species across England. It represents the largest ever government investment in species recovery.
ARC is leading on projects to recover three of England's most threatened amphibians and reptiles: the Northern pool frog, natterjack toad and smooth snake. These species are among Britain's rarest amphibians and reptiles, each facing unique conservation challenges. From restoring and managing habitats to monitoring populations and sharing specialist expertise, partnership working is essential to securing their long-term future. These species each depend on particular habitat conditions, in a landscape that has become increasingly fragmented and degraded. Through habitat restoration, targeted monitoring, landowner engagement and collaborative conservation research, the Species Recovery Programme will help secure the future of these rare animals.
 
This pool frog will be one of the focus species benefitting from new funding to support long-term recovery and conservation efforts - <Photo: ARC, Jim Foster>.
 
ARC’s projects will deliver sand dune restoration to help natterjack toads and Northern Dune tiger beetles in Cumbria, as well as reintroductions and ecological research for pool frogs and smooth snakes. All the work will be done in conjunction with our fantastic partners, including landowners, researchers and ecological specialists.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said, “Nearly one in six species in Britain are threatened with extinction, and this Government is taking action to reverse that decline. Through the largest-ever investment in species recovery, we are backing projects across the country to protect threatened wildlife, restore habitats and secure the future of some of England's most iconic species.”
 
 
Smooth snake, one of Britain's rarest reptiles, found on lowland heath <Photo: Adobe Stock>.
 
 The Natterjack toad, a rare native amphibian, is one of the species that has already benefited from targeted conservation action to support its recovery <Photo: Adobe Stock>.
 
The announcement comes at a time when wildlife across Great Britain continues to face significant pressures. Since 1970, wildlife populations have declined by around a third, with one in six species now considered at risk of extinction. The programme aims to reverse these trends through targeted conservation action, habitat restoration, research and species recovery.
ARC is delighted to continue working alongside Natural England and our conservation partners to deliver practical action for these iconic species. Recovering threatened amphibians and reptiles depends on long-term collaboration, evidence-based conservation and healthy, connected habitats, and this investment will help drive that work forward.
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