← Back⛪ Religious grounds

St John's Church

📷 Marathon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome

Getting here

51.41626, 0.46179

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
☕The Higham Oven Bake — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
☕The Higham Oven Bake — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

CaféParking

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Robin +83 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Robin +83 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Lateral Cryphaea, Common Feather-moss, Common Striated Feather-moss +23 more · last seen 2024; Plants — Lateral Cryphaea, Common Feather-moss, Common Striated Feather-moss +23 more · last seen 2024

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Stag Beetle, Dock Bug +46 more · last seen 2026; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, Stag Beetle, Dock Bug +46 more · last seen 2026

Free

Family friendly

Good match

café

Free

Dog walks

Good match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

21 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

1066 Harold's WayWalking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Purple Circular WalkWalking route

Named route

Red Circular WalkWalking route

Named routeRound trip

Medway Valley WalkWalking route45 km

Named routeLength 45 kmRegional walking route

Strood Community TrailWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

175 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Heron TrailCycling route

Named routeRef 179National Cycle Network

NCN National Route 17Cycling route

Named routeRef 17National Cycle Network

NCN National Route 177Cycling route

Named routeRef 177National Cycle Network

NCN National Route 13Cycling route

Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network

NCN National Route 1Cycling route

Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route125 m

Named routeRef 1Length 125 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface blocks

Wildlife to spot

6,122 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

6,122 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds91 species

winter

2025

Blackbird · Woodpigeon · Robin · Blue Tit · Great Tit +86

BlackbirdTurdus merula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
RedwingTurdus iliacus2024
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
BuzzardButeo buteo
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2024
MagpiePica pica
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
SwallowHirundo rustica
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
CootFulica atra
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
JackdawColoeus monedula
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus2023
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
SwiftApus apus
Redpoll (cabaret/flammea)Acanthis flammea cabaret/flammea2024
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus2023
DunlinCalidris alpina2023
Herring GullLarus argentatus2023
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
RedshankTringa totanus2023
CurlewNumenius arquata2023
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2023
AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta2023
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2023
Common GullLarus canus2023
TealAnas crecca2023
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Rock DoveColumba livia
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2024
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2023
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2023
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola2023
Greylag GooseAnser anser2023
Mute SwanCygnus olor2023
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2023
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2023
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2023
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
Red KiteMilvus milvus
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2023
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2023
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2023
RookCorvus frugilegus2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2023
SnipeGallinago gallinago2023
Dark-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla bernicla2023
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2023
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2023
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2023
GadwallMareca strepera2023
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2023
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus2023
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2023
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2022
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2022

🦌

Mammals13 species

summer

2025

Rabbit · Red Fox · Badger · Grey Squirrel · Hedgehog +8

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
BadgerMeles meles2022
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2023
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2024
BatChiroptera
Brown HareLepus europaeus2022
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2022
BatsVespertilionidae
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis
Fallow DeerDama dama2022
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2022
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2022

🐝

Insects49 species

summer

2026

7-spot Ladybird · Stag Beetle · Dock Bug · Dark-edged Bee-fly · Green Shieldbug +44

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2025
Dock BugCoreus marginatus2025
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2025
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2025
Rutpela maculataRutpela maculata2023
Dark Bush-cricketPholidoptera griseoaptera2025
Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis2025
Ruddy DarterSympetrum sanguineum2024
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2024
Southern Migrant HawkerAeshna affinis2023
Torymus rubiTorymus rubi2023
FirebugPyrrhocoris apterus2025
Zig-zag Elm SawflyAproceros leucopoda2025
Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus2025
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2025
Chrysotoxum cautumChrysotoxum cautum2025
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2025
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2025
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2025
Rambur's Pied ShieldbugTritomegas sexmaculatus2025
EupeodesEupeodes2025
Dock MandrelAmetastegia glabrata2025
Wayward SawflyTenthredo temula2025
Cheilosia latifronsCheilosia latifrons2024
Harmonia axyridis form conspicuaHarmonia axyridis form conspicua2024
Bridgman’s Bean-gallerEuura bridgmanii2024
Mystacides longicornisMystacides longicornis2024
Little SnipeflyChrysopilus asiliformis2024
Welsh ChaferHoplia philanthus2024
Oak Mining SawflyProfenusa pygmaea2024
Issus coleoptratusIssus coleoptratus2024
Trichochermes walkeriTrichochermes walkeri2024
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2024
Variimorda villosaVariimorda villosa2023
Rhopalus (Rhopalus) subrufusRhopalus (Rhopalus) subrufus2023
Lucerne BugAdelphocoris lineolatus2023
Thistle Tortoise BeetleCassida rubiginosa2023
Variable Nomad BeeNomada zonata2023
Adonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegata2023
Tawny Mining BeeAndrena fulva2023
Six-spotted Pot BeetleCryptocephalus sexpunctatus2022
Small Yellow-legged RobberflyDioctria linearis2022
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2022
PolleniaPollenia2022
Small Birch Mining SawflyFenusa pumila2022

🌿

Plants26 species

summer

2024

Lateral Cryphaea · Common Striated Feather-moss · Common Feather-moss · Capillary Thread-moss · Wood Bristle-moss +21

Lateral CryphaeaCryphaea heteromalla
Common Striated Feather-mossEurhynchium striatum
Common Feather-mossKindbergia praelonga
Capillary Thread-mossBryum capillare
Wood Bristle-mossLewinskya affinis
Dusky Beard-mossDidymodon luridus
Silky Wall Feather-mossHomalothecium sericeum
Dwarf Feather-mossMicroeurhynchium pumilum
Beech Feather-mossCirriphyllum crassinervium
Hypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiformeHypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiforme
Common Cord-mossFunaria hygrometrica
Flat NeckeraNeckera complanata
Zygodon conoideus var. conoideusZygodon conoideus var. conoideus
Rambling Tail-mossAnomodon viticulosus
Didymodon tophaceus subsp. sicculusDidymodon tophaceus subsp. sicculus
Wall ScalewortPorella platyphylla
Clustered Feather-mossRhynchostegium confertum
Pointed Spear-mossCalliergonella cuspidata
White-tipped Bristle-mossOrthotrichum diaphanum
Forked VeilwortMetzgeria furcata
Rough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulum
Silver-mossBryum argenteum
Fox-tail Feather-mossThamnobryum alopecurum
Tender Feather-mossRhynchostegiella tenella
English Rock-bristleSeligeria calycina
Narrow-leaved Pocket-mossFissidens gracilifolius

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

6,122 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds91 species

winter

2025

Blackbird · Woodpigeon · Robin · Blue Tit · Great Tit +86

BlackbirdTurdus merula
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
RobinErithacus rubecula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
RedwingTurdus iliacus2024
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
BuzzardButeo buteo
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2024
MagpiePica pica
DunnockPrunella modularis2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
JayGarrulus glandarius2024
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
SwallowHirundo rustica
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
CootFulica atra
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
JackdawColoeus monedula
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus2023
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
SwiftApus apus
Redpoll (cabaret/flammea)Acanthis flammea cabaret/flammea2024
Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus2023
DunlinCalidris alpina2023
Herring GullLarus argentatus2023
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2023
RedshankTringa totanus2023
CurlewNumenius arquata2023
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2023
AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta2023
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2023
Common GullLarus canus2023
TealAnas crecca2023
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus2023
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Rock DoveColumba livia
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2024
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca2023
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2023
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarola2023
Greylag GooseAnser anser2023
Mute SwanCygnus olor2023
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2023
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2023
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula2023
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
Red KiteMilvus milvus
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2024
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2023
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2023
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica2023
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis2023
RookCorvus frugilegus2023
RavenCorvus corax2023
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus2023
SnipeGallinago gallinago2023
Dark-bellied Brent GooseBranta bernicla bernicla2023
Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret2023
ShelduckTadorna tadorna2023
TurnstoneArenaria interpres2023
GadwallMareca strepera2023
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2023
Rock PipitAnthus petrosus2023
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri2023
BramblingFringilla montifringilla2022
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2022

🦌

Mammals13 species

summer

2025

Rabbit · Red Fox · Badger · Grey Squirrel · Hedgehog +8

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
BadgerMeles meles2022
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2023
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2024
BatChiroptera
Brown HareLepus europaeus2022
Brown RatRattus norvegicus2022
BatsVespertilionidae
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis
Fallow DeerDama dama2022
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2022
Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus2022

🐝

Insects49 species

summer

2026

7-spot Ladybird · Stag Beetle · Dock Bug · Dark-edged Bee-fly · Green Shieldbug +44

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025
Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2025
Dock BugCoreus marginatus2025
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2025
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2025
Rutpela maculataRutpela maculata2023
Dark Bush-cricketPholidoptera griseoaptera2025
Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis2025
Ruddy DarterSympetrum sanguineum2024
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2024
Southern Migrant HawkerAeshna affinis2023
Torymus rubiTorymus rubi2023
FirebugPyrrhocoris apterus2025
Zig-zag Elm SawflyAproceros leucopoda2025
Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus2025
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2025
Chrysotoxum cautumChrysotoxum cautum2025
Common Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum2025
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2025
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2025
Rambur's Pied ShieldbugTritomegas sexmaculatus2025
EupeodesEupeodes2025
Dock MandrelAmetastegia glabrata2025
Wayward SawflyTenthredo temula2025
Cheilosia latifronsCheilosia latifrons2024
Harmonia axyridis form conspicuaHarmonia axyridis form conspicua2024
Bridgman’s Bean-gallerEuura bridgmanii2024
Mystacides longicornisMystacides longicornis2024
Little SnipeflyChrysopilus asiliformis2024
Welsh ChaferHoplia philanthus2024
Oak Mining SawflyProfenusa pygmaea2024
Issus coleoptratusIssus coleoptratus2024
Trichochermes walkeriTrichochermes walkeri2024
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2024
Variimorda villosaVariimorda villosa2023
Rhopalus (Rhopalus) subrufusRhopalus (Rhopalus) subrufus2023
Lucerne BugAdelphocoris lineolatus2023
Thistle Tortoise BeetleCassida rubiginosa2023
Variable Nomad BeeNomada zonata2023
Adonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegata2023
Tawny Mining BeeAndrena fulva2023
Six-spotted Pot BeetleCryptocephalus sexpunctatus2022
Small Yellow-legged RobberflyDioctria linearis2022
Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2022
PolleniaPollenia2022
Small Birch Mining SawflyFenusa pumila2022

🌿

Plants26 species

summer

2024

Lateral Cryphaea · Common Striated Feather-moss · Common Feather-moss · Capillary Thread-moss · Wood Bristle-moss +21

Lateral CryphaeaCryphaea heteromalla
Common Striated Feather-mossEurhynchium striatum
Common Feather-mossKindbergia praelonga
Capillary Thread-mossBryum capillare
Wood Bristle-mossLewinskya affinis
Dusky Beard-mossDidymodon luridus
Silky Wall Feather-mossHomalothecium sericeum
Dwarf Feather-mossMicroeurhynchium pumilum
Beech Feather-mossCirriphyllum crassinervium
Hypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiformeHypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiforme
Common Cord-mossFunaria hygrometrica
Flat NeckeraNeckera complanata
Zygodon conoideus var. conoideusZygodon conoideus var. conoideus
Rambling Tail-mossAnomodon viticulosus
Didymodon tophaceus subsp. sicculusDidymodon tophaceus subsp. sicculus
Wall ScalewortPorella platyphylla
Clustered Feather-mossRhynchostegium confertum
Pointed Spear-mossCalliergonella cuspidata
White-tipped Bristle-mossOrthotrichum diaphanum
Forked VeilwortMetzgeria furcata
Rough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulum
Silver-mossBryum argenteum
Fox-tail Feather-mossThamnobryum alopecurum
Tender Feather-mossRhynchostegiella tenella
English Rock-bristleSeligeria calycina
Narrow-leaved Pocket-mossFissidens gracilifolius

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Marathon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The interior of St John's Church, Higham

1 / 21

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Nearby places

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🌱Shorne Woods Country ParkUrban park3.3 km→🏞️SHORNE WOODCountry park3.3 km→🌱Watermill GardensUrban park3.6 km→🌱Eastgate GardensUrban park4.5 km→🌱Broomhill ParkUrban park2.3 km→🌱Shorne Wood Country ParkUrban park3.3 km→

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