Sand lizards are a highly protected UK species. Southport’s coastal dune area is one of their last established strongholds.
Sadly, a great deal of their vital habitat has been lost
due to human inroads and developments. Somehow, they still do manage to survive
with difficulty in small colonies.
Sand Lizards are one of the UK’s rarest reptile species. Because of dramatic habitat loss they now only naturally occur on sandy heathland in Surrey, Dorset and Hampshire and within our coastal sand dune in Merseyside.
Some years ago, the popular Southport Cyclone was demolished. Concerns had been raised by some campaigners that sand lizards existed in the area, yet the destruction still went ahead with disbelieving authorities taking little notice.
However, the proof of sand lizard existence in the Ocean Plaza area came starkly to light this week when a kind-hearted witness rescued one specimen that was spotted in a local shop. The sand lizard was quickly returned to suitable wild habitat in the area.
The specimen was positively identified later on by an
expert from Froglife, a leading national wildlife conservation charity.
https://www.froglife.org/who-we-are/
It is thought possible that ground moment from nearby car park building work by the pier may have disturbed an existing sand lizard colony, thereby driving them further afield.
· Capture, injure or kill animals of such species
· Disturb animals of such species
· Take or destroy the eggs of such an animal
· Damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of such an animal.
Penalties for offences include fines of up to £5000, plus up to six months imprisonment, for each offence committed.
4 July 2023 update.
Yet ‘another’ legally protected sand lizard was seen this morning in an Ocean Plaza shop close to the Starbucks building work, that’s going on under Southport Pier. Natural England, Froglife, a Southport councillor and Sefton Council have been made aware of the situation.
I saw these lizards not too long ago. I was doing some work in the same area along the old model railway line that runs underneath the pier. I saw several over a three day period, especially at the far end of the railway line (near the pier) I certainly think that there is a small, isolated population in that area. Unfortunately they are hemmed in by roads and buildings on all sides of their diminished habitat; meanwhile further ongoing building works only serves to cause further disturbance and destruction of their limited range. Surely this disturbance and habitat destruction by builders runs contrary to wildlife protection policy's now in force.
ReplyDeleteWildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations would indicate you are correct. However, do any of the relevant bodies actually bother to enforce these days, or is profit given priority?
DeleteUnfortunately money and profit seem to be the driver for everything these days and I would suggest that builders and developers care very little for the concerns of habitat loss and the wild creatures affected therein. Certainly natural England need to be pushed into taking positive action on this issue. The destruction of these rare creatures and their habitat is happening right now, and is ongoing.
ReplyDeleteTrue what you say. NE have in fact responded to us and are apparently now treating this as a matter of urgency. .
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