The Groomsport area is favoured with a rich natural marine environment. Ballymacormick Point is a National Trust area and trail leading into Ballyholme from Groomsport. A rich mix of flora and fauna can be found there.
Cockle Island (in the harbour area)is a summer breeding ground for hundreds of Arctic Terns, as part of their 43,000 mile migration route. A CCTV camera is installed within Cockle Row Tourist Information and Museum centre, allowing easy viewing for for bird-watchers.
To the rear of Cockle Row cottage, a natural ‘rough area’ of whin bushes and rocks, adjacent to the children’s play park, is an imaginary adventure for young children. All around the harbour area, blackberries flourish and can be picked and eaten in season.
Bats can be seen in flight along the B511 Bangor Road and around the harbour on a summer evening.
The Holme Field, situated between the children’s play park and Ballymacormick Point, is ‘Common Ground’ and much cherished by residents and visitors alike.
Groomsport is much enhanced by the planting out of floral displays by Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Phil Wilkinson of Duck Down Divers has published this video, filmed at night just North East of Groomsport. He has also taken some still images from the same area.
We have identified about 50 species of plants that make their home around Orlock and Ballymacormick Point.
Read a list of the plants and which booklet to download / consult for more details here.