The Northern Ireland countryside is home to a fascinating array of plants, insects and animals. You will find details below of National Trust sites at which you are likely to find some of the more rare and interesting species in the local countryside. The species listed are priority species identified in the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy.

Mammals by their nature are elusive and most are nocturnal but with patience and good luck you may catch glimpses of otter if you visit Crom Estate or Castle Ward; red squirrel at Florence Court, Colin Glen or Crom; Irish hares at Ballyquintin, Crom or Ballyconaghan on Rathlin Island. Pipistrelle bats can be seen flying at dusk around many of the National Trust's historic houses and buildings.

Birdwatching at many of the National Trust properties is a rewarding experience. For a good day's birdwatching and the best opportunity to see some of these birds visit the National Trust sites on the North Coast, Strangford Lough, Ballyquintin, Orlock Point, Ballymacormick Point and the south County Down Coast, especially Murlough.

One of the best sites in Northern Ireland to see the beautiful and rare marsh fritillary butterfly is Murlough.

Many of these plants are typical of our scarcer habitats. Enjoy the wonderful colour of these and many other wild flowers at such sites as Murlough, Crom, Ballyconaghan, Rowallane, Avish and the North Coast properties, particularly White Park Bay, Fair Head and Portstewart Strand. Indeed a visit to any National Trust property in the spring and summer is sure to provide a wealth of wildflower colour.

Other interesting species to look out for.

Common seals can regularly be seen in Strangford Lough and from Murlough in Dundrum Bay. With patience you may see pine martens at Crom and most bat species are frequently seen flying around National Trust houses and through our woodland sites in the late evening. Florence Court, Springhill, The Argory, Castle Ward, Crom and Mount Stewart are amongst the best properties to see bats. Terns can be seen at coastal sites such as Ballymacormick Point and large flocks of brent geese are a memorable sight on Strangford Lough in winter. Most of the National Trust's countryside and coastal sites offer excellent opportunities to see a host of butterflies, moths, dragonflies, beetles, bees and many of our scarcer plants, such as oyster plant, shepherd's cress, whorled caraway, blue-eyed grass and spring squill. Less colourful, but an equally important part of our biodiversity, are lichens, mosses and liverworts which can be seen on old trees, boulders, cliffs and buildings.