I would love to visit Camphill says First Minister
December 14, 2004
Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell has said he would "love" to make a visit to Camphill.

His comment was reported in The Press and Journal report on his Ask Jack event in Aberdeen.

Responding to a question from Dr Stefan Geider, the Camphill Medical Officer, the paper reports the First Minister telling the audience:

"I have never visited Camphill, but I have heard so much about it and the quality of its work. I suppose I might be an admirer from afar - I understand the importance of the work and the sensitivity of the work.

"One of the primary duties of the state is that vulnerable young people are looked after and have opportunities in life," the First Minster added.
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US community expresses "deep concern" at threat to centre of inspiration
November 30, 2004
Residents at Camphill Village USA, one of eight independent Camphill communities in the United States and 90 worldwide, have joined the growing protest over the proposed routing of the AWPR through the Camphill communities in Bieldside.

"Camphill is an international organisation of communities sharing life, work and learning with persons with developmental disabilities," they say in their letter. "This all began in Aberdeen, Scotland and there are many of us around the world who received our training and inspiration there. Indeed the Camphill community in Aberdeen began the inspirational process, which helps so many people worldwide."

The American villagers go on to highlight the concerns for safety and the unique therapeutic environment of the Camphill communities - in particular concerns about noise and pollution.

"We urge the Scottish authorities to find an alternative routing that would not have such disastrous consequences for this special and vulnerable community," the Camphill Village USA residents conclude.

Camphill Village USA in Copake, New York was established in 1961 following a lecture Camphill founder Dr. Karl König gave in New York City. It was Dr König and his followers who founded Camphill in Aberdeen in 1939, when they sought refuge in the city after fleeing Nazi persecution.

Camphill Village USA has now grown to 600 acres of hills, woods and pastures. A total of 240 people live and work together as a community. Like the founding communities in Aberdeen, Camphill Village USA has its own crafts workshops, farm buildings, a medical centre, culture and arts centre, bakery, store, café and gift shop.

Camphill Village USA is at www.camphillvillage.org
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Exhibition raises £3,000 for Save Camphill on first day
November 23, 2004
The Artists for Save Camphill exhibition, which was opened by Aberdeen South MP Anne Begg, has already proven an outstanding success raising more than £3,000 for the Save Camphill campaign on its first day.

Commenting on the success, Patricia Reith, the exhibition organiser and one of the featured artists, said:

"We took over £3,000 in sales, representing half the original works in the exhibition. We also sold 17 limited edition prints. These sales are all donated to support the Save Camphill campaign as our expenses were all covered by sponsorship.

"This would be an exceptional response even for a commercial gallery!"

The Artists for Save Camphill exhibition is open to the public from now until December 22 in the Newton Dee Café, Old Ferry Road, Bieldside, Aberdeen. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4.45pm. The prints can also be viewed on the Save Camphill website at www.savecamphill.org.uk.

The artists who donated their individual works are Francis Boag; Jane Birrel; Catherine Imhoff Cardinal; Frances Crawford; Anni Dagostino; Andrea Dagostino; Wilma Dunbar; Elspeth Haston; Susie Hunt; David Newbatt; Mary McMurtrie; Paul Raine; Gabrielle Reith; Patricia Reith; Marga Schnell; Joan Wilson. (In the case of Mary McMurtrie, the donation was made posthumously)
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NE Businessman supports campaign
November 15, 2004
A prominent figure in Aberdeen business circles, Angus Pelham Burn, a retired director of the Bank of Scotland, is the latest person to speak out against the threat hanging over the Camphill communities in Aberdeen.

"In March this year the First Minister said that government had an absolute duty to protect vulnerable children. He added that government must be prepared to intervene at every stage when a child is at risk.

"Sadly the Camphill saga suggests that this was an empty promise. Building a busy dual-carriageway trunk road through the grounds of Camphill, just a hundred metres from the bedroom windows of children with severe learning difficulties, is clearly not protecting vulnerable children.

"This proposal threatens the well-being of some 200 vulnerable children and adults in the two Camphill communities that are affected. It also threatens 65 years of work which has helped thousands of adults and children reach their potential since the international Camphill Movement began, here in Aberdeen in 1939.

"The Scottish Parliament should be about doing what the people of Scotland want. It is more than obvious that driving this road through Camphill is not what the majority of people want.

"Politicians are not good at saying 'sorry we got it wrong'. This is a golden opportunity for them to do so."
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Artists for Save Camphill
November 10, 2004
A group of well-known local artists have joined forces as 'Artists for Save Camphill' to produce works for a unique exhibition, which has been organised to support the Save Camphill campaign.

The work was specially commissioned, by exhibition organiser Patricia Reith, from local artists. They were asked to paint and photograph their personal interpretations and impressions on the theme of Camphill's Newton Dee community and the environment that is under threat from the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

The artists have all donated their individual works to the exhibition in aid of the campaign to Save Camphill.

The artists are Francis Boag; Jane Birrel; Catherine Imhoff Cardinal; Frances Crawford; Anni Dagostino; Andrea Dagostino; Wilma Dunbar; Elspeth Haston; Susie Hunt; David Newbatt; Mary McMurtrie; Paul Raine; Gabrielle Reith; Patricia Reith; Marga Schnell; Joan Wilson. (In the case of Mary McMurtrie, the donation was made posthumously)

The exhibition will be open to the public from November 20 to December 22 in the Newton Dee Café, Old Ferry Road, Bieldside, Aberdeen. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4.45pm.

Many of the works have also been translated into quality 'Giclee' prints, which will be available from the Newton Dee Cafe shop. They will be displayed on the Save Camphill web site www.savecamphill.org.uk from the opening of the exhibition (November 20) Prices for the mounted 'Giclee' prints will start at £45, with all proceeds going to the Save Camphill campaign.

Commenting on the exhibition, Patricia Reith, said:
"Through their work the artists wish to express solidarity with the residents of Newton Dee in their campaign to save their village and the surrounding natural environment from the threat of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

"This is a place of significant beauty, a haven of peace and quiet. It is an inspirational place, a sanctuary of calm, with a therapeutic and healing effect, appreciated by all who visit and benefit from being in the unique surroundings that only this place can provide.

"This natural environment has been cared for and the land enhanced by the organic and bio-dynamic farming methods of the community. It provides a safe, ideal home and meaningful life for the disadvantaged and vulnerable adults and children who live and prosper in the security and seclusion of these ideal surroundings.

"It falls to the creative discernment of the artist to convey a vision and express compassion for the villagers of Newton Dee by means of their ability to communicate visually. An exceptional awareness of the place has been created in a wide range of individual artistic works from the subjective to the symbolic, from the literal landscape to the love in the community. "
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Aberdeen councillors' visit
November 9, 2004
Aberdeen City's councillors are to visit Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools and Camphill Newton Dee community to meet with residents, pupils and co-workers and hear about their concerns. The meeting will take place on Thursday, November 18.
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Corbenic sends objection to Minister
November 5, 2004
The Camphill community at Corbenic in Perthshire has written to the Minister for Transport Nicol Stephen to object "in the strongest terms" to the proposed route of the AWPR through Camphill. The letter was sent with an attachment containing 28 signatures.

"Not only would this road be devastating to the Aberdeen community, as you are now well aware, but if the future existence of Murtle Estate is threatened, we at Corbenic would also be adversely affected," their letter states.

"For Corbenic to continue to operate in the way our residents and families expect, it is vital that the Aberdeen Community survives.

"Finally, countless visitors to the Camphill communities remark upon the special and tranquil atmosphere pervading their environs. This ambience has been created from many years of specialised labour on the land, in homes and in workshops. If Murtle Estate - the first Camphill to be created - were to close it would completely denigrate over sixty years of commitment from long-term co-workers, volunteers and dedicated helpers.

"We urge you to hear our voice and to consider our view point in any further discussions over the proposed by-pass," the letter concludes.
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ARC supports Save Camphill
November 4, 2004
The Association for Real Change (ARC), which supports, develops and promotes learning disability services across the UK, has come out in support of the Save Camphill campaign.
In their autumn newsletter they reproduced a newspaper article about the AWPR threat and encouraged other organisations to write to the Minister for Transport Nicol Stephen, objecting to the route of the AWPR.
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"Act of sheer vandalism" says MSP
October 13, 2004
Tommy Sheridan, leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, visited Camphill on October 11 to hear the concerns of residents.

In his column in the Daily Mirror on October 13, he described the proposal to drive the road through Camphill as "an act of sheer vandalism" adding that the road "must not be allowed to run right through this tranquil and beautiful alternative community".
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MSPs' support for Camphill in Local Plan consultation
September 29, 2004
Nanette Milne, MSP for Northeast Scotland has placed on record, her support for the Camphill communities as part of the Aberdeen Local Plan consultation.

In a letter to Donald Murdoch, Corporate Director of City Development Services, Mrs Milne outlined her objections to the route of the current proposed corridor, citing the disruption that would be caused to the Camphill community, and the loss of a highly desirable part of the greenbelt amongst the reasons for her objection.

Nanette Milne comments: “I want to place on record my objections to the current route of the WPR. There is clearly a need for a city bypass – particularly to take the heavy goods vehicles which travel along the A90, A96 and A947.

“However, the destruction of and damage to the communities of Camphill and Newton Dee under the current route are unacceptable. If the WPR were to lie North of Camphill, it would satisfy the very significant lobby of users and residents who value this highly desirable part of the green belt for its wildlife and recreational opportunities.

“I do not wish to delay the progress of this important road around the city, but valid local concerns are such that I feel an alternative corridor will have to be looked at.”

David Davidson MSP, who recently visited the area and thereafter led a debate in Parliament on the threat to the community said: “It is now down to the Minister and to local planners to ensure that the excellent work carried out by staff at the Camphill community continues. I am sure that a variation to the route can be made so as to save Newton Dee and Camphill without jeopardising the bypass project.”

Alex Johnstone MSP, who plans to visit the community in the near future comments: “The WPR is vital to the continued success of the local economy, but I do not want to see it threaten the extremely valuable work being done for a very vulnerable section of the community.”
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UK media focus on the threat to Camphill
September 28, 2004
In the past week Camphill has been the subject of a feature article in The Times. No less than three BBC radio teams have been gathering programme material. And the finishing touches are being put to a half-hour documentary to be broadcast next month.

On Wednesday last week, BBC Radio Scotland's Beechgrove team were at Camphill looking, in particular, at the horticultural side of Camphill and how that would be severely affected by the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

On Thursday there were two BBC Radio 4 programmes with teams at Camphill at the same time! Even more coincidentally both are Saturday morning programmes!

• Open Country will be looking at the road as it affects the community, with particular focus on the agricultural side of Newton Dee.
• Home Truths, the Radio 4 programme presented by John Peel, looks at issues across the UK. It goes out at 9am on Saturday and is repeated at 11pm on Monday.

Neither programme can currently tell us exactly when the items will go out, but we will publish details here if we get them in time.

Meanwhile, Grampian TV is putting the finishing touches to a half-hour prime-time documentary on the threat to Camphill. The programme, part of the Craig Millar File series is due to be broadcast on Thursday, October 14. Make a note in your diary!

(If you live in the UK, but outside the Grampian TV area you may still be able to watch. If you have satellite TV, you may well find you receive Grampian on one of your existing channels.)
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Save Camphill urgently needs YOUR help
September 22, 2004
The deadline for objections to the Aberdeen City Finalised Local Plan, which includes the routing of the AWPR through Camphill, is Thursday, September 30.

Please send your letter of objection to reach the Aberdeen City Council before that deadline. You can simply add your address and name to the draft supplied (see links below), or better still you write a letter in your own words. You can download the draft in Word format or Text format.

You can submit your objection letter by post to the address shown, or e-mail to citydev@aberdeencity.gov.uk. You can find out more about the local plan on the Aberdeen City Council website.
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Aberdeen Greenbelt Alliance supports Save Camphill
September 15, 2004
Aberdeen Greenbelt Alliance has been set up to campaign against the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and its associated developments in the Aberdeen greenbelt. One of the issues it highlights is concern about is the human environment, with specific reference to Camphill.

AGA says: "The current WPR plans with all its associated housing, industrial parks, etc. drive a coach and horses through the Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen Greenbelt. The Greenbelt is there to be preserved and enhanced. The Greenbelt is one of the elements, which makes Aberdeen such a pleasant place to work and live."

Aberdeen Greenbelt Alliance website is at www.aberdeengreenbelt.org
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Nurturing the needy is not nimbyism
September 11, 2004
The Press and Journal focussed on the remarkable story of Erika Nauck who was smuggled out of East Germany in 1949 to come to work for Dr Karl Konig at Camphill in Aberdeen. "Now 55 years on she is preparing for another struggle," says the paper.

Read her story at www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk
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Fears over safety of residents
September 10, 2004
AWPR survey work carried out on Camphill's land is causing concern as a hole was not only dug without permission, but was left open, without a safety fence, just one metre from a footpath used by special needs children.

Read the article at www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk
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