Four of the six UK reptiles occur in Norfolk the exceptions being the smooth snake and the sand lizard which are largely confined to the heathlands of southern Britain.
The reptiles you can see are:
Adder. The adder is a quite common species in Norfolk and can sometimes be disturbed from areas of heathland, dune systems or woodland glades especially during early spring when they are reviving from their winter hibernation or are engaged in courtship.
Grass Snake. These are quite common, especially on or near wetlands where they will hunt for frogs, newts and other such prey. Broadland has a large population and the best time to see them is on warm early spring days.
Slow-worm. These ‘legless lizards’ are not very common in Norfolk. They do occupy a variety of habitats but prefer grassy meadows, woodland margins and open fields. They can also sometimes be found in gardens.
Common (or Viviparous) Lizard. These reptiles are very common and widespread in Norfolk. They are best looked for on sunny days basking on fenceposts and other exposed objects.
Picture by Duncan Westlake