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St Mary's Church

📷 Roger Cornfoot · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome

Getting here

50.80204, -2.77652

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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
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
🅿️Parking 168m away — 2 car parks within reach

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
🅿️Parking 168m away — 2 car parks within reach

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Parking

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

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

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Black Redstart, Robin, Jackdaw +65 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Black Redstart, Robin, Jackdaw +65 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Meadow Brown, Small White, Gatekeeper +168 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Small White, Gatekeeper +168 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Good match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Hiking

Good match

Named hiking route nearby: Jubilee Trail (Dorset)

Free

Seasonal nature

Moderate match

Plants — Himalayan Balsam · last seen 2018; Plants — Himalayan Balsam · last seen 2018

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby · 20 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Monarch's WayWalking route990 km

approximate route of Charles II's escape

Named routeRef MWLength 990 kmRegional walking route

Wessex RidgewayWalking route

Named routeRef WRRegional walking route

Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route

Named routeRegional walking route

W43/4public footpath · 430 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 430 mSurface grassPath type: footway

W43/13public footpath · 174 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 174 mSurface concretePath type: track

W43/11public footpath · 181 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 181 mSurface grassPath type: footway

🚴

Cycling

9 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 2Cycling route

National Cycle Route 2 Christchurch to Axminster

Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route560 m

Named routeRef 2Length 560 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route1.1 km

Named routeRef 2Length 1.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route1.3 km

Named routeRef 2Length 1.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route442 m

Named routeRef 2Length 442 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route546 m

Named routeRef 2Length 546 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route

Named routeListed length 207km

🐴

Horse riding

8 public paths nearby

Public paths

W43/45bridleway · 185 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 185 mSurface grassPath type: bridleway

W43/46restricted byway · 53 m

Public pathrestricted bywayLength 53 mSurface unpavedPath type: track

Mason's Lane (W43/3)bridleway · 403 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 403 mSurface asphaltPath type: service

Horsehill Lanebridleway · 183 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 183 mPath type: service

W43/45bridleway · 151 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 151 mSurface grassPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

10,281 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

10,281 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds38 species

winterspringsummer

2026

Mediterranean Gull · Black Redstart · Robin · Jackdaw · Spotted Flycatcher +33

Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2024
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2023
BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
House SparrowPasser domesticus2023
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
Coal TitPeriparus ater2023
GreenfinchChloris chloris2023
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2023
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
MerlinFalco columbarius2023
DunnockPrunella modularis2023
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes2024
RavenCorvus corax2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2023
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
Great TitParus major2023
RookCorvus frugilegus2023
Barn OwlTyto alba2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2023
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2023
Herring GullLarus argentatus2023
SwiftApus apus2022

🦌

Mammals8 species

springsummer

2025

Rabbit · Common Dolphin · Hedgehog · Fallow Deer · Bat +3

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Common DolphinDelphinus delphis2023
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
Fallow DeerDama dama
BatChiroptera2024
Grey Long-eared BatPlecotus austriacus2024
Grey SealHalichoerus grypus2024
PolecatMustela putorius2023

🐝

Insects12 species

summer

2025

Meadow Brown · Small Skipper · Glow-worm · Roesel's Bush-cricket · Cantharis rustica +7

Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2023
Small SkipperThymelicus sylvestris2023
Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca2022
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii
Cantharis rusticaCantharis rustica
Oil BeetleMeloe2024
Small WhitePieris rapae2023
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2023
Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2023
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2023
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni2022
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2022

🌿

Plants24 species

spring

2025

Dryopteris affinis · Primrose · Hedera helix · Cleavers · European Larch +19

Dryopteris affinisDryopteris affinis
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Hedera helixHedera helix
CleaversGalium aparine
European LarchLarix decidua
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Soft Shield-fernPolystichum setiferum
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
PignutConopodium majus
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta
Cherry LaurelPrunus laurocerasus
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
BeechFagus sylvatica
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
HollyIlex aquifolium
Yellow ArchangelLamiastrum galeobdolon
HazelCorylus avellana
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
Common CalamintClinopodium ascendens2024
Winter HeliotropePetasites pyrenaicus2024

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

10,281 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds38 species

winterspringsummer

2026

Mediterranean Gull · Black Redstart · Robin · Jackdaw · Spotted Flycatcher +33

Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2024
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2023
BlackbirdTurdus merula2023
Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2023
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2023
House SparrowPasser domesticus2023
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2023
Coal TitPeriparus ater2023
GreenfinchChloris chloris2023
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2023
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
MerlinFalco columbarius2023
DunnockPrunella modularis2023
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes2024
RavenCorvus corax2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2023
SwallowHirundo rustica2023
Great TitParus major2023
RookCorvus frugilegus2023
Barn OwlTyto alba2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2024
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2023
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2023
Herring GullLarus argentatus2023
SwiftApus apus2022

🦌

Mammals8 species

springsummer

2025

Rabbit · Common Dolphin · Hedgehog · Fallow Deer · Bat +3

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus
Common DolphinDelphinus delphis2023
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2022
Fallow DeerDama dama
BatChiroptera2024
Grey Long-eared BatPlecotus austriacus2024
Grey SealHalichoerus grypus2024
PolecatMustela putorius2023

🐝

Insects12 species

summer

2025

Meadow Brown · Small Skipper · Glow-worm · Roesel's Bush-cricket · Cantharis rustica +7

Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2023
Small SkipperThymelicus sylvestris2023
Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca2022
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii
Cantharis rusticaCantharis rustica
Oil BeetleMeloe2024
Small WhitePieris rapae2023
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2023
Migrant HawkerAeshna mixta2023
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2023
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni2022
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2022

🌿

Plants24 species

spring

2025

Dryopteris affinis · Primrose · Hedera helix · Cleavers · European Larch +19

Dryopteris affinisDryopteris affinis
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Hedera helixHedera helix
CleaversGalium aparine
European LarchLarix decidua
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Soft Shield-fernPolystichum setiferum
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
PignutConopodium majus
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta
Cherry LaurelPrunus laurocerasus
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
RamsonsAllium ursinum
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera
BeechFagus sylvatica
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
HollyIlex aquifolium
Yellow ArchangelLamiastrum galeobdolon
HazelCorylus avellana
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
Common CalamintClinopodium ascendens2024
Winter HeliotropePetasites pyrenaicus2024

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Roger Cornfoot · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The churchyard, St Mary's Church, Stoke Abbott

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

⛪St John's ChurchReligious grounds2.6 km→✦Parnham HouseHistoric site2.2 km→⛪St Mary's ChurchReligious grounds2.6 km→⚽Beaminster Memorial Playing FieldPlaying field2.8 km→✦Beaminster ManorHistoric site3.4 km→✦Pilsdon Pen hillfort and associated remainsHistoric site4.2 km→

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