Residents have become the first community in Scotland to purchase an island
A community has taken ownership of a remote Scottish island.
Residents of Ulva are celebrating after their bid to take the island into community ownership was secured.
North West Mull Community Woodland Company (NWMCWC), the first group to register interest in an island under the Scottish Government’s Community Right to Buy legislation, has signed binding contracts for the land and the sale will be completed on 21 June.
The bid to buy Ulva was launched by the community a year ago when owner, Jamie Howard, decided to put the estate on the market.
In December 2017, following an independent ballot of 401 voters in north west Mull, almost 64% of people were in favour of the community buyout. Funding of £4.4 million from the Scottish Land Fund was secured to purchase the land.
The estate spans 4,942 acres (2,000 ha) and includes Ulva as well as some land on Mull.
Colin Morrison, the community company's chairman, said: "To say we are extremely grateful to all our supporters and to the various funding agencies, organisations and individuals would be an understatement.
"We cannot thank everyone enough, not just for the financial support, but also the encouragement we've been given throughout the process.
"We have been heartened by the degree of interest and depth of support we have received from official agencies, commercial organisations and also private individuals at home and abroad."
