Situated eight miles north-west of Coleraine, nestled between Benone complex and Downhill Beach, unique habitats of special conservation value and many distinctive species make this nature reserve a real gem. Approximately 45ha in size, one of the chief attractions is the summer display of flowering plants in the meadows and sand dunes, and these in turn support an incredible diversity of insect life - butterflies, moths and bees being the easiest to observe. The nature reserve is noted for a number of rare plants; bee orchid, pyramidal orchid, fragrant orchid, frog orchid, marsh helleborine, adderstongue, moonwort, variable horsetail, hairy rock cress, downy oat-grass, fern grass and early forget-me-not. Interesting butterflies such as Real's wood white, grayling and dark green fritillary are found here, as well as the rare small eggar moth. Keep an eye out for Northern Ireland priority bird species; skylark, mistle thrush, song thrush, bullfinch and linnet. Offshore, a variety of seabirds can be spotted, together with harbour porpoise and seals.
Current conservation work at the Umbra
More than half a hectare of sea buckthorn has been removed from the Umbra, thanks to funding by the Landfill Communities Fund, with follow-up works planned for 2019. This non-native species was a direct threat to the species-rich dune grassland found here.
Also, the non-native pine plantation at the Umbra has been removed too – a truly landscape-scale change to this site. The project was completed thanks to a partnership with NIEA and Drenagh Sawmills Ltd. Several hectares of trees (3.5ha) were removed which will benefit both the grassland species and the wet dune slacks that make this site so important.