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3 months ago
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Eco-fanatics have threatened to ruin the opening week of the school holidays for millions of families by targeting National Trust properties.
Protesters from the group Christian Climate Action will disrupt visitors going to tourist hotspots across the UK including Chartwell in Kent, which belonged to Sir Winston Churchill and Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed.
The protests are due to begin today to coincide with the start of the summer school holidays and last until Sunday, 5 August.
Other popular destinations due to be hit by the eco-rabble are Grey’s Court in Henley-on-Thames and Wentworth Castle in South Yorkshire.
In all more than 40 National Trust properties will be struck within one week at a time when the sites are usually expecting a massive surge in attendance and revenue.
Protesters hold placards in support of jailed climate activists. Eco-fanatics have threatened to target National Trust holidays as schools break up for the summer holidays
Demonstrators will disrupt visitors going to attractions such as Sir Winston Churchill's home Chartwell in Kent (pictured)
Just Stop Oil protesters clash with police after bringing traffic to a standstill
The disruption will come just over a week after the co-founder of Just Stop Oil, Roger Hallam was jailed at Southwark Crown Court for a plot to disrupt the M25.
Christian Climate Action justifies their actions because they say Barclays Bank, which acts for the Trust, is the largest funder of fossil fuels in Europe.
Clare Fussell, Campaign Director for Operation Noah, a charity involved in the protests, said: ‘Barclays is Europe’s biggest funder of fossil fuel companies, and is bankrolling the climate crisis.
‘We love the National Trust, but it urgently needs to switch to greener, cleaner banking in order to keep protecting the places we love for future generations.
A climate protester outside Southwark Crown Court holds a placard with the message 'Facing the end of the world is neither here nor there, says Judge Hehir'
Other popular hotspots that are due to be hit by demonstrators include Wentworth Castle (pictured) in south Yorkshire
Eco-fanatics have justify their actions because Barclay's Bank, which is the largest funder of fossil fuel companies in Europe, acts for the National Trust
‘This is an ideal opportunity for the Trust to make its money work for the good of our shared home.’
Last year Barclays provided more than £17.5 billion to fossil fuel companies driving up emissions and pollution, a 10% increase on the year before, and a total of £182 billion since 2016.
Campaigners against fossil fuels have set up a petition, calling on the National Trust to ‘Bank Better - Drop Barclays’.
Claire Duc, a National Trust member in Sussex who will be protesting said: ‘As a member it is really disheartening knowing that my money is being sent off to Barclays bank.’
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