Mull&Iona
SUMMER 2021
Issue 42
Life
MULL AND IONA MAPS OUT FAMILY FUN MEGA EFFORT FROM MULL CHILDREN TEEPEE MAKING ON MULL
MULL AND IONA’S FREE COMMUNITY MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED TO OVER 1,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES ON MULL & IONA
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welcome fàilte
FRONT COVER PICTURE
Couple with colorful buildings on sunny day at Tobermory
contents
Shutterstock.com
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Mull and Iona maps out family fun
EDITORIAL
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Mull’s An Tobar and Mull Theatre gets new chief
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Mull marine hails green first
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Mull salmon farm to trial system
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Royal Tattoo funds Mull Fiddle Week
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Mull forest links up with rewilding project
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New Mull manager has global experience
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Teepee making on Mull
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Mull sea eagles make history down south
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Mega effort from Mull children
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Pandemic fails to silence Mull Music Makers
editor@obantimes.co.uk
ADVERTISING
Fiona MacInnes 01631 568000
PRODUCTION Kevin McCubbin
PUBLISHED BY
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Mull and Iona maps out family fun
and keep them entertained in the outdoors Mull and Iona has come up with a new fun as places start to reopen. way of encouraging families to explore its The map can be downloaded from the islands - whatever the weather. website at mullandionaquest.co.uk The Quest is a trail of 25 locations, each or bought at shops on Mull for with a clue leading to a fun fact £5 per family. discovery. Rewards are also being ofChildren on the adventure will The Quest is fered to anyone returning their be invited to find answers to the perfect way answers to Craignure’s iCentre. clues such as ‘Who was the to entertain Helen said: ‘The Quest is a Terror of Tobermory?’ or ‘How fun way for families to take part many fairies are hidden inside the children, in an outdoor adventure. Not the fairy door on the Calgary in whatever the all of our indoor attractions are Nature walk?’ weather. open yet, and we are aware Helen MacDonald, communithat families are attracted to cations officer for Visit Mull and the safety of open air as tourIona, the islands’ destination ism reopens on our islands. marketing organisation, who came up with ‘The Quest is the perfect way to entertain The Quest idea, says it will introduce famithe children, whatever the weather.’ lies to many fascinating parts of the islands
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MULL’S AN TOBAR AND MULL THEATRE GETS NEW CHIEF is home to a remarkable An Tobar and Mull Theatre’s community of artists. As the potential to be a cultural key repository for the island’s beacon for Scotland and cultural identity, An Tobar the wider world ‘thrills and Mull Theatre holds a and inspires’ its new chief executive Rebecca Atkinson- unique place in our national discourse. Lord. ‘It’s a small organisation Trained as a director with a big heart that punches at RADA and with the well above its weight and Royal Opera House and I’m thrilled and inspired by Young Vic, her work has its potential to become a taken her from major cultural beacon for the whole international companies like of Scotland, Shakespeare’s the UK, and the Globe, Scottish wider world,’ Opera, and the Mull has a she said. Royal Opera long history Raymond House, to of inspiring MacDonald, intimate spaces world-class art Professor in London and of Music beyond – and and is home to Psychology and now to the a remarkable Improvisation at island of Mull. community of the University of Rebecca is artists. Edinburgh and swapping her co-chairperson job as artistic of the Mull director and board, described Rebecca as chief executive of Londonan ‘exceptionally gifted and based theatre production world-class producer, writer, and development hub Arch director and performer’ and 468 to take on the top role at An Tobar and Mull Theatre welcomed her to the team. ‘Her expertise, vision, and and be Mull Theatre’s artistic director. She will be here from passion for the arts combine with her collegiality and July. A hybrid theatre-maker who community spirit to make her directs, writes, and produces the perfect person to join as our new chief executive and theatre and performance, artistic director (theatre),’ he Rebecca says she is said. ‘incredibly excited’ about Thanks were also given what is to come. to outgoing theatre director ‘Mull has a long history of Beth Morton as her interim inspiring world-class art and
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post comes to an end. ‘Beth has created some brilliant work while in the post of theatre director and has led Mull Theatre through the pandemic with surety and care, forging new exciting partnerships for the theatre and working to build a strong future. ‘Beth will return to her work as a freelance director and theatre-maker but we are very much looking forward to continuing our collaboration with her when she returns to work with us in the future, most notably to direct an upcoming production she commissioned during her time here,’ said Professor MacDonald. In 2008 Rebecca founded theatre production and development hub Arch 468 dedicated to transforming the theatre landscape. From 2010 to 2016 she was director of theatre at Ovalhouse, now known as Brixton House, and at the National Portfolio Theatre in South London. She is also an experienced teacher, speaker, and mentor and has taught acting and directing at several of the UK’s leading drama schools and universities including RADA, King’s College London, London South Bank University and the University of Birmingham.
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MULL MARINE HAILS GREEN FIRST A marine firm on Mull has announced plans to unveil the ‘most sustainable vessel in Scottish aquaculture’ as the sector seeks to become greener and reduce its carbon footprint before the year 2045. Later this summer, Inverlussa Marine Services (IMS) will take delivery of a fully-hybrid catamaran from
Norwegian-based Moen Marin, the world’s largest supplier of working boats to the sector. In what has been hailed as a ‘major milestone’ for Scotland, the new vessel will help reduce reliance on diesel and cut Co2 emissions to help the environment. It will be contracted out to salmon farm companies for mooring/grid inspection and installation, treatment support, net changing and heavy lifting and general site support. The 15-metre NabCat 1510
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DD Hybrid, can operate with a crew of up to three and has been billed as the first hybrid workboat in the Scottish sector. Ben Wilson, managing director of the Craignurebased IMS, said: ‘This battery hybrid propulsion system will reduce the vessel’s diesel consumption by approx 90,000 litres per year compared to a fully diesel version. ‘This is a reduction of 234 tonnes equivalent of Co2 annually which is the same as removing 51 passenger vehicles from the road each year.’ ‘Our ambition is to always stay ahead and offer our customers the best available technology.’ Being a hybrid, it can run on either diesel-electric or battery-electric powered by a 244kWh battery pack, which can be charged by shore power or on-board generator. That means the vessel will be able to perform up to six hours of general sitework before the generator has to start, he said. The vessel is also powered solely by batteries overnight to reduce noise pollution, fuel usage and make the vessel more comfortable for the crew to rest. With Inverlussa being a leading operator of service vessels in Scotland, demand
has been growing among aquaculture companies and their clients to demonstrate sustainability at sea. Mr Wilson added: ‘Everybody wants to be greener and more efficient. I expect this will become more common in the future. For us, it is about being able to offer our customers the widest possible range of the latest and greatest technology.’ The vessel is due to be handed over to Inverlussa in Norway in August. Graham Smith, for Moen Marin’s British division, said Inverlussa Marine Services was leading the way. ‘It is great to see that Scottish aquaculture gets its first hybrid electric vessel and I believe and hope that this is just the beginning,’ he said. The Scottish Salmon Sustainability Charter published in November by the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation states that the aquaculture sector can become a key contributor to Scotland’s target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2045. The charter contains five key pledges and 41 different actions, including the industry transitioning to greener energies, working towards zero waste, and achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations before 2045.
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MULL SALMON FARM TO TRIAL SYSTEM Scottish Sea Farms is to trial a new system to protect salmon from plankton in what is being hailed as a first for the sector in Scotland. It involves six pens at its Loch Spelve farm on Mull being connected to a new Canadian-built ‘Flowpressor’ system, with the other six served by a standard compressor. Plankton can cause damage to the gills and deprive fish of oxygen so aeration of the water is one of several protective measures salmon farms take when rising plankton levels are detected. Currently, salmon farmers use generic aeration compressors to aerate the water by pumping air into pens to boost water movement and water quality, but the current system can have mixed results. If air flows are not evenly
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distributed, the pens closest to the compressor tend to receive the biggest boost of air. The trial will seek to demonstrate the difference between the Flowpressor and traditional kit. It has also improved fish The Flowpressor system survival and improved has been custom-designed growth due to fewer lost for the aquaculture sector feeding days, by Canadianthe company based Poseidon We will be said. Ocean Innes Weir, looking to see Systems. Gill health what day-to-day regional production is more of a difference the manager at challenge in system makes Scottish Sea Canada than to the feed rate, Farms, said: in Scottish ‘Flowpressor growth and waters and the effectively Flowpressor survival of our draws ‘clean’ system is salmon overall. water from already in the depth of operation along the pen – in Canada’s west coast where other words, well away the farmers have reported a 50 planktonic surface layers – to 60 per cent reduction in and distributes it upwards, algae inside pens.
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Alan Tangny Loch Spelve Farm manager
improving water quality throughout the whole pen. ‘It also comes with the additional option of ‘bubble curtains’ which create a barrier to plankton and other biological challenges such as jellyfish infestations, significantly reducing the concentration of these potentially harmful organisms within open pen systems.’ He added: ‘We will be looking to see what day-today difference the system makes to the feed rate, growth and survival of our salmon overall. ‘Crucially, we also want to gauge what protection the
system can deliver during a plankton event or periods of low oxygen.’ Matt Clarke, co-founder of Poseidon Ocean Systems, said: ‘Not only is Flowpressor more effective at protecting farmed fish health than standard systems, it’s also 56 per cent more fuel efficient, reducing CO2 emissions by as much as 700 tonnes for each unit installed. ‘That’s the equivalent of taking 150 passenger vehicles off the road for one year. ‘Designed for longevity, the system also has an operating life estimated to
be three times that of other options on the market, further reducing its carbon, water and waste footprints.’ Stewart Hawthorn, director of Trimara Services, the exclusive UK distributor of Poseidon’s Flowpressor system, added: ‘It’s fantastic to see this novel technology being trialled in Scotland for the first time. ‘Working closely with Scottish Sea Farms, we have designed a bespoke solution suited to the particular marine conditions of the trial site and look forward to verifying the fish performance gains through the data amassed.’
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Royal Tattoo funds Mull Fiddle Week
Mull Music Makers are tuning up for a free fiddle week this August with the help of Edinburgh Tattoo. Young people, aged from five to 26 and living on Mull and across Argyll and Bute, are being invited to sign up for the week-long skill-building course open to players of all levels from beginners to professional
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string teachers – and in between. The dates in the diary are Monday August 9 to Friday August 13. The venture, a first for Mull Music Makers (MMM), got 100 per cent funding from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo two years ago but had to cancel it for 2020 because of the pandemic.
Now it is back on and excitement is mounting for this summer’s celebration of traditional fiddle music with the support of expert tutors led by Scottish fiddle player and composer Patsy Reid. Fiddle teacher Adam Sutherland, who has strong Mull connections and has played with The Treacherous Orchestra, Session A9,
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Peatbog Faeries, Babelfish and Croft no.5 is also on the team of tutors. Patsy said: ‘After more than a year’s delay, I’m so ready and excited to be curating the Mull Fiddle Week this August, collaborating with the Mull Music Makers. They have such a precious and inspirational thing going. I’m honoured to be involved, delivering a summer school focused on traditional fiddle music, which seems so fitting in the beautiful setting of Mull. We have a fantastic cohort of tutors confirmed, including Adam Sutherland, Vanessa Edwards and Dan Thorpe. There are brilliant opportunities for participants with additional support needs, as well as mentoring placements for over 18s. I simply adore Tobermory and wider Mull, and this happy week can’t come soon enough!’ Workshops will be focused on learning to play traditional fiddle tunes by ear as well as through movement connecting the music to dance. MMM’s Laura Mandleberg said there will also be pop-up performances and informal sessions around Tobermory during the week spreading the joy of live music out onto the streets. At the
shortage of music teachers end of the week there will living locally. be a chance for the young With the exception of people to showcase their chanter and piping, it is achievements. The event will be managed incredibly difficult to access instrumental tuition on Mull to respect whatever the which is why MMM supports Covid restrictions are at the young string time teaching in players by smaller groups raising funds or bubbles to After more than to bring violin keep everyone a year’s delay, tutors to the safe, said I’m so ready and island each Laura. excited to be month. Hear My ‘Young people Music, a curating the Mull community Fiddle Week this where we live are often music August. geographically organisation isolated, working with living in small people who communities scattered have complex needs and across large, remote areas or an Autism Spectrum therefore Mull Fiddle Week Disorder, are also getting involved in the week putting will be just as important socially as musical,’ added on learning sessions. Laura. Laura said Mull Music Organisers are Makers is all about encouraging people to book immersing young people places quick, call 01688 in the energy and spirit of 400364 or email laura_ traditional music in an area mandleberg@hotmail.com where its cultural roots run deep but provision is poor due to a
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Mull forest links up with rewilding project A community forest on Mull could soon be a link in a chain of rewilding ‘stepping stones’ to tackle Scotland’s nature and climate crises Charity SCOTLAND: The Big Picture is talking to Ardura Community Forest about becoming part of a new rewilding network bringing together a diverse group of nature-rich estates, farms, crofts and community-owned land. The Northwoods Rewilding Network will allow more of Scotland’s many smaller landholdings of 50 to 1,000 acres to play a bigger role in restoring and connecting habitats full of life to boost declining species, tackle climate breakdown, and create new opportunities for rural communities. The plan is that the project will complement Scotland’s major landscape-scale rewilding sites by filling in the gaps in local areas, joining together a tapestry of smaller nature recovery sites and wildlife corridors. Northwoods hopes to expand to at least 10,000 acres within two years and so far has engaged 12 initial land partners include farms, crofts, small estates and a community woodland covering 3,500 acres between them. Mull and Iona Community Trust’s general manager Moray Finch said: ‘We are delighted to be a part of the
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Northwoods Rewilding Network and hope to gain knowledge from the other partners as we begin the process of harvesting the commercial forestry and then restocking with locally sourced native trees thus allowing Ardura Community Forest to flourish as a native woodland again.’ James Nairne who is Northwoods’ project manager said the scheme wants to harness the potential of smaller landholdings coming together. ‘We need to scale-up nature
restoration while highlighting the economic and social opportunities that rewilding brings for people. ‘Despite their beauty and drama, many of Scotland’s landscapes have been in ecological decline for a very long time, with many species extinct and others once prolific now teetering on the edge. Northwoods will help turn this around,’ he added. Research in 2016 estimated that only 28 countries out of 218 have lost more biodiversity than the UK, with Scotland faring only slightly better than
the UK average. To be part of the Northwoods project, the partners will work to an agreed set of principles covering issues like establishing native woodlands, restoring wetlands, and creating habitat for missing native species. As well as making way for ecological change on the ground, Northwoods will develop sustainable nature-based business models, focusing on opportunities for communities. ‘We want to see vibrant, prosperous communities within nature-rich landscapes, as increasingly enjoyed across Europe,’ said Peter Cairns, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture’s executive director. SCOTLAND: The Big Picture has now launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to help Northwoods develop over its first two years, with match-funding platform The Big Give to double every donation. The appeal can be supported at bit.ly/NorthwoodsAppeal. The other 11 Northwoods partners are Argaty Red Kites, Carbeth Home Farm, and Little Drumquharn Farm in Stirlingshire; Ballinlaggan Farm and Ballintean Farm in the Highlands; Bamff Wildland, Comrie Croft, and Upper Brae of Cultulich Farm in Perthshire; Drumadoon Farm on Arran; and Kinkell Byre in Fife.
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NEW MULL MANAGER HAS GLOBAL EXPERIENCE Crerar Hotels has announced the appointment of John de Villiers as the new general manager of the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa. With more than 13 years of hospitality industry experience, John has worked across a range of hotels and hospitality businesses in the UK, USA and Africa. These include Hilton Hotels, the Gordon Ramsay Group, Asilia Africa and John de Villiers is the new Wilderness Safaris. He joins the team on Mull general manager of the Isle following his latest post as of Mull Hotel & Spa. general manager for the AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel in ensuring guests a memoraNamibia, southern Africa. ble experience of ‘wellness His new role sees him and adventure’. relocate with his wife Olivia John said: ‘I am thrilled to and young son be joining the Oscar from team on Mull as Namibia via I am thrilled to we prepare to London, where be joining the welcome back they have team on Mull as guests for midlived in recent May. we prepare to months. ‘The hotel is a welcome back John’s focus stunning propguests for midwill be on erty in a unique recruiting new May. and idyllic team members island location, to the four-star which was well property which has underworth relocating for. gone a multi-million pound ‘The extensive refurbishrefurbishment in preparation ment will create the perfect for re-opening. destination to relax, absorb He will prioritise mainthe fresh country air and taining the four-star desexplore our coastal setting. tination’s reputation as a He added: ‘Our secluded retreat for ‘rest and renewal’ location, minutes away from
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Craignure Bay, offers guests one of the best places to stay on Mull. My absolute priority is ensuring every guest feels special and has their every need catered for as part of a first-class experience.’ Chris Wayne-Wills, Chief Executive Officer of the Crerar Hotel Group, said: ‘John is a fantastic addition to our group, with an outstanding level of international experience in the industry. As we begin to re-establish ourselves following the latest lockdown, I know John and his team on Mull will do a brilliant job providing the exceptional service expected of our hotels. The hotel’s refurbishment has seen its 75 luxury bedrooms and bathrooms redeveloped, with the addition of generously proportioned sea view suites, as well as public areas and spa facilities. A sea deck for drinks and dining has been created, alongside new restaurants and bars, which will feature local produce and seafood accompanying the stunning views of Craignure Bay.
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Mull Funeral Services
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TEEPEE MAKING ON MULL Youngsters on Mull have been busy weaving willow teepees. The activity sessions were just part of holiday fun organised over the Easter break by the South West Mull and Iona Development (SWMID) group and friends. The finished teepees will now be joining other structures for people to enjoy in Tiroran Community Forest.
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Visitors to Tiroran were encouraged to get creative with their cameras to snap some shots of how they enjoy the forest.
Emily Wilkins from the Mull and Iona Ranger Service took these photographs to share with Oban Times readers. SWMID will also be revealing the winner of its People In The Forest photography competition on May 1. Visitors to Tiroran were encouraged to get creative with their cameras to snap some shots of how they enjoy the forest. The closing date was April 18 with prizes to be won for primary and senior school ages – and over-18s too.
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Mull sea eagles make history down south
Two young Scottish sea by the Roy Dennis Wildlife eagles from Mull are making Foundation and Forestry history as they England, and explore their aims to release To witness the new home on up to 60 young the south coast sea eagles from first sea eagle of England. Scotland by releases in The pair were 2024. England and to hatched on Mull The Mull male know they were and female were and are part of from Mull was an ambitious released on the five-year project Isle of Wight a very moving to reintroduce in 2019 where experience for the species to the last known me. their former sea eagles bred haunts across in 1780 – they the British Isles. were joined by four others The project is managed collected from elsewhere in
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Scotland. RSPB Scotland Mull Officer Dave Sexton was involved in the collection of the two Mull chicks in June 2019, as well as the public consultation exercise on the Isle of Wight. He said: ‘To witness the first sea eagle releases in England and to know they were from Mull was a very moving experience for me. They have thrived ever since and have proved how easy it is for them to adapt and to settle, often unseen, into a more congested and built up environment than where they came from.’
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Meet the Puffins Discover Mull, Iona and Staffa
The Three Isles Tour Adventure on your doorstep! Experience the spectacular scenery of the Isle of Mull, the tranquility of Iona and the wonderful wildlife on Staffa, all on a day tour from Oban. Tours operate daily and include ferry travel with CalMac and a boat trip with Staffa Tours. Book online today at westcoasttours.co.uk or call us on 01631 566 809.
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Mega effort from Mull children A small but highly focused group of youngsters from Mull gave the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance a lift on Saturday, April 3, when completing the Mull Mega Duathlon. Members of the Mull Youth Triathlon Team, aged 10-13, took up the challenge which comprised a 6km (3.7-mile) run, followed by a 40km (24-mile) cycle then finished off with another 6km run. Despite the hilly nature of the course the intrepid youngsters sped round, finishing
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The youngsters were rewarded for their efforts with cake from the Little Bespoke Bakery in Salen.
The youngsters got on their bike for the middle section which involved a 40km cycle. in approximately three and a half hours; an impressive achievement all round. Although Mull remains in level three with fewer restrictions than most of the country, it was not possible to have supporters to cheer at the end. Instead The Little Bespoke Bakery in Salen kindly provided delicious cakes as a treat at the finish. The challenge was in aid of the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance – a cause close to the hearts of so many in the islands and remote communities. At the time of writing the total stood at £2,388. Thanks are due to all who donated.
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Pandemic fails to silence Mull Music Makers It has been over a year since parent-led project Mull Music Makers has been able to hold workshops in person but a virtual solution has hit the right note for now. Usually a team of specialist music educators and violin instructors travel across to Mull from the mainland to teach around 40 youngsters at monthly workshops on the island, but when the
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virus brought that to a halt, the project went online instead so youngsters could still access live musicianship sessions and violin lessons. Before lockdown and going on line, Mull Music makers use to hold monthly in-person workshops The project has grown since going online last May to see new virtual ensemble sessions set up in some
of the island’s schools and youngsters compose their own parts for a new Sounds of Mull creative piece premiered at a virtual summer concert in July. ‘Our main aim was to keep the learning going – the last thing we wanted after years of boosting the number of young people playing musical instruments on the island was for youngsters to
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staff, care workers, volstart giving up,’ said Laura unteers and key workers Mandleberg, who is the helping the nation through project leader. the coronavirus pandemic. She added: ‘While there Laura said: ‘The project have been many challenges, poor internet being the main has been using this beautiful song to draw inspiration and one – and lots of snapped musical ideas from all the strings! – there have defidifferent age nitely been lots groups on the of positives Our main aim project, includtoo. Youngwas to keep the ing our new sters have had starts.’ to take more learning going. The plan is for responsibility the Mull Music for their learning for example, tuning their Makers to come together at the end of the project with own instruments, recording a shared creative perforthemselves practicing and playing along to click tracks. mance. The youngest of the It has also been great workgroups have also been busy ing more closely with the creating their own lyrics to island’s schools.’ sing along. This term youngsters Here is their last verse: have also been learning the ‘And the music lifts us Skerryvore tune, Everyday upwards though we cannot Heroes, which was written sing together and recorded remotely by this will not last forever and the band during the first that fills us all with hope.’ lockdown in April, and pays Front man Martin Gillespie tribute to all of the NHS
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said the band was delighted and honoured that Mull Music Makers had decided to use Everyday Heroes. Laura added: ‘Music-making will never be the same through the computer screen and teaching remotely can’t ever replace faceto-face learning, but the last year has taught us that there is a lot that can be done online if we are creative and this is especially valuable for remote island communities – good internet depending!’ The project hopes to still be able to run this year’s summer school in July and to go ahead with Mull Fiddle Week in August, celebrating local fiddle traditions and aiming to inspire young people to enjoy and take part in traditional music. To read more about the Mull Music Makers project visit its Facebook Page or contact laura_mandleberg@ hotmail.com
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