Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Plan your visit
🦅Birds✦Heritage🦉Wildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome
Getting here
50.86305, 0.26038
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦80+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Canada Goose and Herring Gull
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- ☕AJ's Baked — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦80+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Canada Goose and Herring Gull
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- ☕AJ's Baked — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
☕Café🅿️Parking· Free🚻Toilets
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Moorhen +77 more · last seen 2026
Free
✦Heritage
Very strong match
Grade I listed building: THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT MARY; Religious grounds — local heritage
Free
Birds — Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Moorhen +77 more · last seen 2026
Free
🧺Picnic day out
Strong match
café, toilets, car park
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser +50 more · last seen 2025
Free
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
café, toilets
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km5 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Vanguard WayWalking route111 km▾
Named routeRef VGWLength 111 kmRegional walking route
Alfriston Clergy House to The Long Man of Wilmington, AlfristonWalking route6.9 km▾
Named routeLength 6.9 kmDuration 02:00Round tripLocal walking route
WealdwayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
1066 Country Walk - South Downs LinkWalking route▾
Named routeRef 1006LRegional walking route
1066 Country WalkWalking route50 km▾
Named routeLength 50 kmRegional walking route
43 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Avenue Verte London ↔ ParisCycling route▾
English part of Avenue Verte London ↔ Paris, an international cycle route that connects the two capital cities
Named routeRef AVInternational cycle route
Route 21Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 21National Cycle Network
The Cuckoo TrailCycling route▾
National Cycle Route 2 Hastings to BrightonCycling route▾
Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route281 m▾
Named routeRef 2Length 281 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route133 m▾
Named routeRef 2Length 133 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
14,845 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
14,845 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds39 species
springautumn
2026▾
Canada Goose · Mallard · Moorhen · Herring Gull · Blue Tit +34
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
- CuckooCuculus canorus2025
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
- LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2024
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
- SwallowHirundo rustica2024
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2024
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2024
- JackdawColoeus monedula2024
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
- RavenCorvus corax2024
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2024
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra2024
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
- RookCorvus frugilegus2024
- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2024
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2024
🦌Mammals7 species
springsummer
2025▾
Brown Long-eared Bat · Hazel Dormouse · Red Fox · Hedgehog · Badger +2
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus2024
- Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius2024
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
- BadgerMeles meles
- Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus
Grass Snake · Pond Terrapin · Slow-worm
- Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
- Pond TerrapinTrachemys scripta
- Slow-wormAnguis fragilis2024
🐸Amphibians4 species
springautumn
2025▾
Common Toad · Great Crested Newt · Smooth Newt · Common Frog
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Great Crested NewtTriturus cristatus
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2024
- Common FrogRana temporaria2024
Large Red Damselfly · Eristalis pertinax · Syritta pipiens · Long-winged Cone-head · Dock Bug +26
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
- Syritta pipiensSyritta pipiens
- Long-winged Cone-headConocephalus fuscus
- Dock BugCoreus marginatus
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
- Hairy Dragonfly
Holly · Lords-and-Ladies · Shepherd's-purse · Primrose · Groundsel +15
- HollyIlex aquifolium
- Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum
- Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
- PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
- GroundselSenecio vulgaris
- Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
- Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
14,845 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds39 species
springautumn
2026▾
Canada Goose · Mallard · Moorhen · Herring Gull · Blue Tit +34
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos2024
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
- Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- SwiftApus apus2025
- Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus2025
- MagpiePica pica2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
- CuckooCuculus canorus2025
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
- LapwingVanellus vanellus2025
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2024
- GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
- SwallowHirundo rustica2024
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2024
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2024
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2024
- JackdawColoeus monedula2024
- House SparrowPasser domesticus2024
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
- RavenCorvus corax2024
- LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
- Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2024
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra2024
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
- RookCorvus frugilegus2024
- Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2024
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2024
🦌Mammals7 species
springsummer
2025▾
Brown Long-eared Bat · Hazel Dormouse · Red Fox · Hedgehog · Badger +2
- Brown Long-eared BatPlecotus auritus2024
- Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius2024
- Red FoxVulpes vulpes
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
- BadgerMeles meles
- Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus
Grass Snake · Pond Terrapin · Slow-worm
- Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
- Pond TerrapinTrachemys scripta
- Slow-wormAnguis fragilis2024
🐸Amphibians4 species
springautumn
2025▾
Common Toad · Great Crested Newt · Smooth Newt · Common Frog
- Common ToadBufo bufo
- Great Crested NewtTriturus cristatus
- Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2024
- Common FrogRana temporaria2024
Large Red Damselfly · Eristalis pertinax · Syritta pipiens · Long-winged Cone-head · Dock Bug +26
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
- Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
- Syritta pipiensSyritta pipiens
- Long-winged Cone-headConocephalus fuscus
- Dock BugCoreus marginatus
- Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis
- Hairy Dragonfly
Holly · Lords-and-Ladies · Shepherd's-purse · Primrose · Groundsel +15
- HollyIlex aquifolium
- Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum
- Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
- PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
- GroundselSenecio vulgaris
- Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
- Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2024
2024
Yellow-necked MouseApodemus flavicollis2024Yellow-necked MouseApodemus flavicollis2024Brachytron pratense
Brachytron pratense
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressaBroad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressaAzure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2024Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2024Variable DamselflyCoenagrion pulchellum2024Variable DamselflyCoenagrion pulchellum2024Southern Oak Bush-cricketMeconema meridionaleSouthern Oak Bush-cricketMeconema meridionaleSicus ferrugineusSicus ferrugineusSicus ferrugineusSicus ferrugineusScaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastriNorfolk AeshnaAeshna isocelesNorfolk AeshnaAeshna isocelesMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusMarmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatusEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxEristalis tenaxSouthern HawkerAeshna cyaneaSouthern HawkerAeshna cyaneaHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulusCommon DarterSympetrum striolatum2024Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2024Willow Emerald DamselflyChalcolestes viridis2024Willow Emerald DamselflyChalcolestes viridis2024Violet Ground BeetleCarabus violaceus2024Violet Ground BeetleCarabus violaceus2024Large Willow AphidTuberolachnus (Tuberolachnus) salignus2024Large Willow AphidTuberolachnus (Tuberolachnus) salignus2024Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2024Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2024Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2024Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2024Vine WeevilOtiorhynchus sulcatus2024Vine WeevilOtiorhynchus sulcatus2024Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2024Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2024Corizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyami2024Corizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyami2024Red-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa serraticornis2024Red-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa serraticornis20247-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata20247-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2024Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2024Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2024Hairy-footed Flower BeeAnthophora plumipes2024Hairy-footed Flower BeeAnthophora plumipes2024Stinking IrisIris foetidissimaStinking IrisIris foetidissimaCleaversGalium aparineCleaversGalium aparineGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025IvyHedera helix2024IvyHedera helix2024Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2024Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius2024SpindleEuonymus europaeus2024SpindleEuonymus europaeus2024BrambleRubus fruticosus2024BrambleRubus fruticosus2024AshFraxinus excelsior2024AshFraxinus excelsior2024Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2024Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2024DandelionTaraxacum2024DandelionTaraxacum2024Common NettleUrtica dioica2024Common NettleUrtica dioica2024Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula2024Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula2024Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2024Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2024