Newtonmore Community Woodland & Development Trust

---

OUR VISION 

To Improve the quality of life in Newtonmore for local people and visitors by supporting the regeneration of native woodland and encouraging physical and mental wellbeing through walking in wild spaces.  

OUR MISSION

WHAT WE DO From our base in the Wildcat Centre we greet visitors and give advice on walks and attractions in and around Newtonmore, manage the popular Wildcat Experience (seeking out 132 life-size painted model wildcats around the village) and promote and maintain the Wildcat Trail (a delightful 10k signposted orbital walk around the village). We work in partnership with other local attractions (e.g. Highland Folk Museum, Highland Wildlife Park), local landowners, crofters as well as local businesses and schools. The Trust maintains a website and a page on facebook.  

HOW WE DO IT With the exception of the Centre Manager, we rely entirely on volunteers drawn from the local community to manage the Trust, staff the Wildcat Centre and maintain the Wildcat Experience and Wildcat Trail. Funding is sought through membership fees, sale of Wildcat goods, grants and donations.

The Newtonmore Community Woodland and Development Trust is a non-profit making company and a Scottish Registered Charity No 27576.  It is managed by a Board of up to 12 trustees.  

The charity does not receive any regular income and relies totally on donations and profits from sales.

The Trust was formed in 1998 with a view to creating amenity woodland in and around Newtonmore as the Millennium approached.  By 1 January 2000 the Trust had planted 23,000 native trees in 16 compartments around the village.  These were linked by a 10km orbital path, The Wildcat Trail.  The Trust maintains the Trail and manages around 40 hectares of surrounding woodland.

In April 2000 the Trust opened the Wildcat Centre '... a walking centre to provide information to the public about walking locally and throughout Scotland ...' as well as general information, sales and as a more direct point of contact with the Trust.

In June 2010 the Trust launched the Wildcat Experience, for children and adults. Life size models of the Scottish Wildcat were painted as a community arts project.  Today over 130 models are sited around the village forming our 'treasure hunt with a difference' - an all year round outdoor activity.