NWMCWC

North West Mull Community Woodland Company

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.

House to rent on Ulva

North West Mull Community Woodland Company is pleased to invite applications for a 3/4-bedroom residential home at Ulva Pier.

The house sits close to the ferry landing and adjoining The Boathouse, with views across the Sound of Ulva. It has three standard-sized bedrooms and a smaller fourth bedroom/office, a spacious kitchen/diner, living room with wood burner, family bathroom, walled garden to the side and fenced garden to the rear.

We are now looking for new full-time, permanent residents to make this house their home and contribute to the long-term future of the island.

Living on Ulva is different from renting a standard property elsewhere, and applicants are encouraged to read all of the information carefully before applying. The house is in a central pier-side location, which can be lively during the main visitor season, and island living involves practical considerations around ferry access, deliveries, water, drainage, shared infrastructure and day-to-day travel.

Property and location details and photos can be accessed here: https://canva.link/ulvahouseatthepier. Alternatively, you can contact admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk for a PDF pack.

The property details include information about rent, charges, ferry access, island practicalities and services. We strongly recommend reading the full property information and Housing Allocation Policy before completing the application form.

Ulva Housing Allocation Policy:

Ulva Housing Allocation Policy v6Download

Housing Application Form:

Ulva Housing Application Form v2Download

The deadline for applications is 2nd August 2026.

Applications will then be reviewed by the allocation panel during w/c 3rd August 2026, with shortlisted applicants invited to attend a site visit and/or interview later that week or during w/c 10th August 2026.

Please share this opportunity with anyone who may be looking for a new home and interested in becoming part of the Ulva community.

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

First house plot sale completed on Ulva

We’re pleased to share that the first house plot sale on Ulva has now been completed. The plot, near Bracadale, will become a future home for Lee, Al and Thomas, who are looking forward to making Ulva their home.

This is an important moment in Ulva’s long-term development. Since the community buyout in 2018, one of the aims has been to help Ulva grow again as a living, working island, with more people able to put down roots here.

For much of Ulva’s history, land and housing have either been in private laird ownership or, more recently, community ownership. This first house plot sale sits within that wider story. It’s a carefully considered step towards creating opportunities for people to build a home, become part of island life, and contribute to Ulva’s future, while the island remains in community ownership.

Lee, Al and Thomas have shared the following message:

Ulva is a very special place, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to become part of its story. Our hope is to build a home that respects the island and its character, and to play a small part in helping Ulva continue to thrive.

We’re looking forward to getting to know the community and contributing wherever we can. We’ll be up and down over the next couple of years while we wait for Thomas to complete his GCSEs, then in two years’ time we’ll become full-time residents on Ulva.

We’re delighted to welcome Lee, Al and Thomas into the wider Ulva community, and look forward to seeing their plans take shape over the coming years.

You can find out more about Ulva’s long-term development plans by reading the Social and Economic Development Plan.

Public Notice: Proposal to Purchase a Plot on Ulva

North West Mull Community Woodland Company has recently received an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a purchase of a plot of land on Ulva, to build a small house, with an office/studio space.

About the Proposal

The proposal is to create a small, single-storey dwelling using natural and local materials where possible. The house would include an office/studio space, as the applicants currently run an architectural practice and have stated that they would hope to bring this work with them to Ulva, allowing them to live and work from the island.

The proposed plot of land is located to the east/south-east of Ulva House, on the track shown on the location map below.

Approximate coordinates: 56°28’25.8″N 6°09’00.6″W
What3Words: ///flame.unlimited.soon

The location shown is approximate and is provided for consultation purposes only. It does not represent a confirmed sale, lease, agreement or legal boundary.

The EOI also notes that a coastal location could allow materials to be brought to the site by water, reducing pressure on Ulva’s road and track network during construction.

Proposed use:
Small dwelling with office/studio space.

Community benefit:

  • Supporting growth of Ulva’s resident population
  • Allowing new residents to live and work on the island
  • Bringing an island-based business to Ulva
  • Potential to share practical architectural, renovation and building experience with the community
  • Creating a building which may support different forms of work or occupation in future

Environmental and design considerations:
The EOI states that the visual and environmental impact of the dwelling would be minimised through sensitive siting, modest scale, and the use of natural and traditional materials where possible.

Context

This EOI was first received in January 2026. Since then, discussions have taken place between the applicants and NWMCWC to better understand the proposal, the proposed location, and how the request should be considered by the charity to ensure transparency and alignment with its purpose.

The site has not previously been publicly advertised. NWMCWC is therefore publishing this notice to inform the community of the interest in purchasing the land, invite feedback, and allow any other Expressions of Interest for the same site to come forward before the Board makes any decision.

No decision has been made, and publication of this notice does not mean that NWMCWC has agreed to sell, lease or otherwise make the land available.

Provide feedback

You can share your views on the received proposal or the potential use of the site. Feedback will be carefully considered before any decision is made.

Feedback may include views on the proposed use, location, access, environmental impact, visual impact, community benefit, land management, or any other matter you feel the Board should consider.

Submit your own EOI

If you or your group have an alternative proposal for this site, or nearby land, you are also welcome to submit your own EOI.

To do so, you will need to complete an Expression of Interest Form, which is available for download here: Minutes & Documents – NWMCWC.

EOIs may also be submitted at any time for other community-owned assets. If you have a proposal for using one of the Charity’s properties, assets or land, you are welcome to get in touch.

Your EOI must address:

  • What the asset or land would be used for
  • How it would benefit the community
  • How it aligns with NWMCWC values and Asset Use Principles
  • Any relevant experience
  • Environmental or cultural considerations, if applicable
  • Any access, financial, legal or practical considerations relevant to the proposal

Key details

  • Deadline for EOIs and feedback: 5pm on 25 June 2026
  • How to submit: send your EOI or feedback to admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk or post it to North West Mull Community Woodland Company, Penmore Mill, Dervaig, Isle of Mull, PA75 6QS.

Decision making process

All proposals and feedback will be considered in line with NWMCWC’s EOI procedure and Asset Use Principles.

The Board will consider matters including community benefit, environmental sustainability, alignment with the charity’s mission, financial viability, responsible land stewardship, community feedback, and the long-term interests of the charity and its assets.

Directors or staff with any personal, family, or professional connections to applicants must declare these connections. While having connections will not automatically exclude them from the process, their involvement will be appropriately managed to ensure impartiality.

Any formal sale, lease, permission or other agreement would remain subject to Board approval, legal advice, valuation where required, statutory permissions, and any other checks considered necessary.

Community feedback received through this notice will help inform that process.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Alicja Newbrook at alicja@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.