Extinction Rebellion on Saturday, 3 August asked visitors at Ham House to petition the National Trust to stop banking with Barclays, one of Europe's biggest investors of new oil, gas and coal projects.  

Campaigners from Richmond surveyed visitors and passers-by on their views and asked them to sign a petition urging the National Trust to switch to an 'ethical bank' that isn't - as campaigners see it - funding climate breakdown.

The local campaign to 'Bank Better' is part of a national movement encouraging charities to move their funds away from Barclays. 

Christian Aid and Oxfam are amongst those which have switched banks, along with local parish councils, schools, businesses, health organisations and higher education institutions. 

Campaigners believe that if the Trust dropped Barclays, it would send a powerful message that ethical investment matters and that time is up for funding fossil fuel expansion.

The world's 60 biggest banks poured over $5.5 trillion over seven years into the fossil fuel industry.

Barclays is the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe, with HSBC, Standard Chartered, NatWest, Lloyds and Santander, all continuing to fund fossil fuels as well. 

Extention Rebellion Richmond campaigners are calling on people to swtich to 'ethical banking' (credit: Extention Rebellion Richmond).

Pressure groups from across the country have been collaborating to emulate the success of previous bank boycott movements, such as the South African Anti-Apartheid movement.

Local campaigner and National Trust member Judith Russenberger said: "I have enjoyed travelling the breadth and length of the country with this banner, visiting places of immense beauty and diversity.

"I am encouraged by the approach of the National Trust in addressing the joint crises of climate change and biodiversity loss and applaud the ambition of achieving net zero by 2030.

"I hope that - like its earlier divestment from fossil fuels - the National Trust will put its banking arrangements in line with its environmental credentials, and drop Barclays."

To find out more about Extinction Rebellion Richmond, click here.

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