NWMCWC

North West Mull Community Woodland Company

Volunteer Board Members Wanted

North West Mull Community Woodland Company is looking for new people to join our volunteer Board of Directors.

There is a lot happening across north west Mull and Ulva, and we would really like to bring some new people around the table to help shape what happens next.

NWMCWC’s work is incredibly varied, covering everything from homes, community buildings and historic properties to woodland and deer management, infrastructure, local businesses, tourism and the long-term regeneration of Ulva. The Board helps set the direction of the Charity and makes decisions across all of these areas.

What does being a Board member involve?

Board members generally give around three hours per week on average. This includes one Board meeting each month, usually on a Monday evening, reading reports and information ahead of meetings, contributing to discussions and decisions, and getting involved in particular projects or areas of work that match their interests, knowledge or experience.

You won’t be expected to be involved in everything, and you don’t need previous Board experience or expertise in a particular field.

We are looking for people who can bring different perspectives, practical experience or local knowledge, and who have the time and willingness to get involved, contribute to decisions and help move things forward. You’ll be working alongside other volunteer Board members and our small staff team.

Interested?

We aim to hold our AGM in November. To stand for election at the AGM, you must be an Ordinary Member of NWMCWC.

If you live outside the area but feel you could still contribute, please get in touch too – the Board can also co-opt additional directors.

If you are interested or would like an informal chat about what being on the Board involves, please contact Alicja at alicja@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

You can find out more about NWMCWC and our work on our About Us page.

Four-bedroom home to rent on Ulva

North West Mull Community Woodland Company is inviting applications for The Old Manse, a spacious four-bedroom home beside historic Ulva Church, available for £695 per month.

Around a 15-minute walk from the pier, the house enjoys views across Loch Tuath towards Mull. It offers four double bedrooms, including a main bedroom with en-suite bathroom, a large kitchen/diner, a living room with an open fire, an entrance boot room, a family bathroom and a separate WC. The property has air source heat pump heating and an EPC rating of C.

A wraparound garden provides space outdoors, with views towards the church and across the water. The house sits alongside the main track to the hostel and Gometra, with visitors passing during the main visitor season. The rear garden is largely not visible from the track and offers more privacy.

We are looking for tenants who would like to make Ulva their permanent home and become part of its small island community.

Life on Ulva brings both opportunities and practical considerations. Applicants should consider the walk between the house and the pier, ferry arrangements, transporting shopping and other goods, and access to work and services on Mull. Please read the full property information and Housing Allocation Policy before applying.

Property information and photographs:
https://canva.link/theoldmanse

For a PDF copy of the property information, please email admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

Ulva Housing Allocation Policy and Housing Application Form are available from the Document section of the NWMCWC website, or for download below:

Ulva Housing Allocation Policy v6Download
Ulva Housing Application Form v3Download

The deadline for applications is 25th October 2026.

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a site visit/interview during the week commencing 26th October. Earlier visits may be possible by arrangement during school half-term holidays. However, please note that these will only be arranged once a completed application has been received, as our capacity to accommodate visits is limited.

Property is available from early November 2026.

For any queries, please contact: admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk

Deer Management Services Tender

North West Mull Community Woodland Company is inviting tenders from suitably qualified and experienced deer management contractors to provide deer population management across land owned and managed by the charity.

The tender is split into two separate lots:

  • Lot 1: Isle of Ulva
  • Lot 2: north west Mull – Langamull Woodlands and West Ardhu.

Contractors may tender for one or both lots. NWMCWC may appoint separate contractors for each lot, depending on the responses received and the needs of each area.

This is not a sporting stalking arrangement. The purpose of the contract is deer population reduction and damage control, supporting woodland regeneration, restock protection, habitat recovery, biodiversity and wider land management objectives.

Tenderers will be asked to demonstrate relevant experience, appropriate qualifications and insurance, safe working practices, carcass handling arrangements, reporting arrangements, and a clear understanding of the practical requirements of the lot or lots applied for.

The deadline for submissions is 4th September 2026, with the expected contract start date is early October 2026.

The Invitation to Tender and Tender Submission Form are available for download here:

Deer Management Services ITT v2Download
Deer Management Services Tender Submission FormDownload

For any questions, please contact Alicja Newbrook at alicja@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

Completed tender submissions should be returned by email to admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

£7,610 raised and pledged for Sheila’s Cottage at Ulva Fundraising Dinner

It has taken us a couple of days for the success of Friday night to properly sink in, and we are still slightly taken aback by the incredible support shown for Sheila’s Cottage.

Our fundraising dinner at The Boathouse on the Isle of Ulva brought together 30 guests for an evening of local food, music and a very lively auction – and between ticket sales, auction bids and pledges towards our donor plaque, an amazing £7,610 was raised and pledged for Sheila’s Cottage.

The total included:

  • £1,050 in ticket sales
  • £4,160 through the auction
  • £2,400 pledged in donations.

Those who pledged donations of £50 or more will have their name included on a donor plaque inside Sheila’s Cottage once the building is restored. The opportunity to have your name added to the plaque is still open. If you would like to take part, please email alicja@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

Once the money pledged on the evening has been paid in, we will also add the event total to our Sheila’s Cottage Enthuse fundraising page.

More than a fundraiser

This was the first fundraising event of this kind since the community buyout of Ulva in 2018, and it really did feel like a special moment.

The night was about more than restoring a valuable heritage asset. It was about bringing people together and strengthening the bond between the Ulva and Mull communities. Ulva’s success can provide long lasting benefits to the wider community, boosting local economy and attracting families to the area. Seeing so many people turn up, give so generously and wanting to be part of what happens next was fantastic.

A real community effort

There are a lot of people to thank, because an evening like this just does not happen without a huge amount of generosity behind the scenes.

First and foremost, a massive thank you to everyone who came along, bought tickets, donated, pledged their support and bid – sometimes very enthusiastically! – during the auction.

The evening would not have happened without the incredible team at The Boathouse. Sam and Callum produced a real feast for 30 people, while staff and volunteers spent the evening serving, clearing tables, washing up and doing all the other jobs that tend to go unnoticed but keep an event running. They were very much the unsung heroes of the night.

We were also incredibly fortunate to have so much of the food and drink donated. A huge thank you to Ulva Farm, Calltainn Croft, David Munro, The Bellachroy and of course, The Boathouse for helping us put together such a special meal.

Thank you as well to Rhuri at The Ulva Ferry, who donated his time to bring everyone across to Ulva and safely home again at the end of the night.

And to Callum, Lena and Steve, whose music helped create such a brilliant atmosphere throughout the evening.

A special thank you must also go to Iain MacKay and his partner Claire, who left the Bunessan Show early to come and run what turned into a rather successful auction!

Some very generous auction prizes

The auction was only possible because of the fantastic prizes donated by local businesses, organisations and supporters.

A very big thank you to:

Banjo and Ro also added a surprise final lot on the night – an exclusive one-night stay in the honeymoon suite at Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel once the hotel is open for business – which gave the auction a real boost.

Thank you

Most of all, thank you to everyone who supported the evening.

The turnout, generosity and atmosphere made it much more than a fundraising dinner. It was a reminder of how much can happen when people come together behind something they care about.

£7,610 raised and pledged for Sheila’s Cottage

That is an incredible result from one evening, and we are hugely grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Sheila’s Cottage Fundraising Dinner on Ulva

NWMCWC is delighted to be organising a special fundraising dinner at The Boathouse on Ulva on Friday 7th August, with all proceeds going towards the much-needed roof repairs and thatching works at Sheila’s Cottage.

The evening will bring together local food, an auction and live music, while raising funds to help protect one of Ulva’s most distinctive historic buildings.

An evening celebrating local produce

The dinner will run from 6pm to 10pm, with a three-course menu featuring produce from Ulva and the surrounding area.

The menu includes Tobermory Fish Canapés, Ulva Farm hogget croquettes and a choice of Ulva Farm beef or grilled langoustines, served with vegetables from Calltainn Croft. Dessert will be homegrown rhubarb compote with crème pâtissière and almond crumble. Vegetarian options are available on request.

The meal will be followed by a fundraising auction and live music, with further details on the music to be confirmed.

Auction prizes

A brilliant selection of prizes has already been donated, including:

  • An Ulva Farm beef box worth £200
  • A two-night stay at Ulva Hostel
  • A meal for two at The Boathouse
  • A family trip to Staffa with Turus Mara
  • A family trip to Staffa and Iona with Turus Mara
  • An Ormaig Seaweed Skincare hamper

There may also be a few more prizes added before the evening.

Tickets and ferry arrangements

Tickets are £35 per person.

Free ferry crossings, courtesy of Rhuri, will run from 5.45pm and again at the end of the evening. Guests should be aware that there will be no ferry crossings during the event.

The venue is small and spaces are limited. To register your interest, please email admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk and include:

  • The number of tickets you would like
  • Your preferred main course
  • Any dietary requirements

We will confirm on Tuesday 4th August whether you have secured a place and will then provide payment details.

Supporting Sheila’s Cottage

Sheila’s Cottage is an important part of Ulva’s history, but its thatched roof now requires significant repair and water is already getting into the building.

The longer-term aim is to protect the cottage and develop it as a small heritage and visitor space, preserving the character of Sheila’s home while sharing the story of Ulva, its people, Gaelic culture and natural heritage.

This fundraising evening is an opportunity to enjoy a special night on Ulva while helping to secure the cottage for future generations.