Description:

The Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) has long been a feature of the walls and gardens of the area around Ventnor Bay. These small green and brown reptiles are taking advantage of the warmth and sunshine of the south east facing bay, away from the prevailing south west and cold north winds. Active throughout the summer they are an intriguing addition to the Island's varied wildlife and are also a unique population of endangered reptiles.

The Island is one of the few sites in the UK where this rare lizard has managed to successfully colonise. The dry stone wall in Ventnor Botanic Gardens is great for a basking lizard, the nooks and crannies provide an ideal home for the lizards and the colony is now thriving.  You can now go for a  clifftop walk from ventnor sea front , following a waymarked trail, (with plenty of other wilslife along the route!) to the specially built wall lizard habitat in Ventnor Botanic Gardens.  Come on a warm sunny day and you would be unlucky not to see any wall lizards!

Visit the weblink to find out location of the wall and to learn more about these fascinating creatures and how tourism is helping them to thrive in sunny Ventnor!