Over the last three years, the Dragons in the Hills project has sought to discover more about Northern Ireland’s little dragons – our three native amphibians and reptiles: common frog, common lizard and smooth newt.

The project, which is led by Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and The Herpetological Society of Ireland, is now drawing to a close. Through £100,000 of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, it has worked to improve our understanding of these beautiful but poorly understood animals across The Ring of Gullion, the Mourne Mountains and the Strangford and Lecale AONBs.
Participants from all walks of life have got involved over the last three years, including students from 12 local schools, members from community groups and people from the business sector. Through a number of outreach events and field trips, they have helped to explore and study these creatures and their habitats and learn about the importance of conservation and monitoring. To celebrate the programme’s success, recently the participants enjoyed a final morning exploring the ‘small places’ of Slieve Gullion Forest Park, looking for the three dragon species and taking part in some fantastic environmental games and activities.
Dr Sally Montgomery, Northern Ireland Committee Member for The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said, “We know that nature is incredibly important to National Lottery players, and this funding for the Dragons in the Hills project means that they can play their part in preserving Northern Ireland’s significant and varied wildlife. We’re incredibly proud to be playing a role in ensuring our natural heritage is safeguarded for generations to come, but also that the projects we fund give people the chance to connect with the nature and wildlife that is on their doorsteps.”