Boscombe
(Dorset)

Closest Town:

BOURNEMOUTH (3.5 km)

Introduction date:

2002

Site Name:

Boscombe

Source of introduction:

Captive bred stock, released by a private breeder. Believed to be a mixture of sources, including imported French stock and captured animals from the Shoreham, Ventnor and Birdbrook colonies.

Site Access:

Public

Colony Status:

Extant

Relative population estimate:

2,250

Extirpation date:

N/a

The colony was first brought to the attention of the herpetological community by Chris Gleed-Owen (then of HCT) in 2004. It is thought that Wall lizards were introduced, probably as hatchlings, at the same time as Western green lizards. Both species are thriving at the site.

Although this colony is not close to known sites of endangered native species, the number of native Common lizards on the Boscombe cliffs has dropped significantly from observation.

The steep Boscombe cliffs are made from a loose sandstone laid down by a prehistoric river estuary. Over large areas of the cliffs the natural plant communities are being damaged and, in some parts, displaced by invasive alien species such as Hottentot Fig. Scrub is becoming overly prevalent throughout with Common Gorse and non-native species such as Holm Oak dominant.

Habitat at Boscombe

Habitat at Boscombe

Mostly green-backed specimens with predominandtly Italian origin.

Morph at Boscombe

Morph at Boscombe