Activists demonstrated at East Sussex’s Bodiam Castle, calling on National Trust to sever ties with Barclays Bank over fossil fuel financing. The protest is part of a series of actions targeting institutions for their role in accelerating climate change.
Climate activists demonstrated at Bodiam Castle in East Sussex to protest fossil fuel funding. They targeted the National Trust, which owns the 14th-century moated fort, for its relationship with Barclays Bank, alleging it as the worst in Europe for financing fossil fuel companies.
Fossil Free London activists displayed a banner at the castle reading, “National Trust: Protect Nature, Drop Barclays.” This protest follows similar actions by Just Stop Oil, which defaced Stonehenge and planes at Stansted Airport.
The National Trust, which manages nature reserves and historic buildings in the UK, acknowledged the urgency of addressing climate change. A spokeswoman mentioned Barclays’ commitment to halt direct financing for oil and gas expansion and require climate transition plans from their energy clients. The Trust stressed its continued engagement with the banking sector to expedite emission reductions while allowing peaceful protests that do not disrupt operations.