This week's Countryfile began with an introduction from Thursley National Nature Reserve in the Surrey Hills where the heathers are stunning right now. Thursley is a vibrant patchwork of habitats that include marshland, woodland and lowland heath. It is one of largest remaining areas of heathland in Surrey covering about 800 acres. This landscape is home to some of our rarest creatures. The habitat of heather, gorse, shelters suit these reptiles. Thursley has a surveying system to record sightings on the reserve.

The UK has six native species of reptiles and all six can be found at Thursley: green lizard, sand lizard, slow worm (legless lizard), smooth snake, grass snake and the adder.

View this Countryfile episode on iPlayer.

Visit the Thursley Nature Reserve.