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Donaghadee is a coastal town on the northern Ards Peninsula, its distinctive 19th-century lighthouse and busy harbour marking the closest point in Ireland to mainland Britain — the Scottish coast at Portpatrick lies only 21 miles across the North Channel. The harbour, motte and old town are picturesque and well-preserved; the sheltered coastal gardens and older residential streets carry lime and sycamore for a reliable June flow. The Ards Peninsula coastline here has sea-thrift, sea-campion and coastal dune plants along the Commons Pleasure Grounds at the shore. The farmland inland toward Millisle and Ballycopeland carries whitethorn hedgerows heavy in May and white clover and field beans through summer. Himalayan balsam lines the Copeland Water margins in late summer, and a long ivy flow on the harbour walls and stone garden walls closes the year.

Blackthorn on drumlin hedges opens the year; sycamore is the dominant May flow. Hawthorn is abundant. Lime in Newtownards, Bangor and Downpatrick gives a strong June crop. The Mourne Mountains carry ling and bell heather — a genuinely distinctive Mournes heather honey. Bramble is dense; coastal sea-aster on Strangford Lough adds character; himalayan balsam on the Lagan gives a long late flow. Ivy on whitewashed cottage walls closes a long, mild year.