Common lizard population found in Wigan

Common lizard recently found in Wigan. Credit Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

This exciting find confirms that the lizards are still surviving on the mosslands in the Wigan Borough. They are the only wild reptiles currently found in the Greater Manchester area.

Mossland restoration
Work being currently undertaken by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, to improve and restore the habitat on the mossland, which is so vital for the lizards. Recent work has involved rewetting the mossland by preventing the land from draining and by removing the encroaching scrub that colonises after the land has been allowed to dry out. Further searches have shown that there is a thriving population of Common Lizard on the mosslands of Wigan.

Lizards are cold blooded and therefore need to sunbathe and ‘catch the rays' to warm up their body temperature before they can go about their daily business, which involves feeding on small insects and invertebrates. At this time of year they sit in a sunny position on a log or stick in a sheltered position. The lizards will be on the lookout for a mate at this time of year and the females will give birth to live young in summer.