National Trust is under pressure to give up Barclays

The National Trust has come under pressure from the grandson of one of its biggest financiers over its relationship with Barclays – and the bank’s ties to the fossil fuel industry.

Dominic Acland said his grandfather Sir Richard Acland, an environmentalist who donated his 17,000 hectares of ancestral lands to the charity in 1944, was “appalled that the National Trust would be banking with Barclays”.

Sir Richard’s legacy includes the Killerton estate in Devon. Acland said he has written to the National Trust arguing that its stance on working with the bank to push for change is not working.

“It seems completely out of balance banking at Barclays… when they [the National Trust] “Are an organization that cares so much about nature and the environment,” he told the Financial Times.

Last month, the charity Christian Aid announced it was suspending its banking operations with Barclays because of its “track record in fossil fuel financing”.

Property: The 18th Century Killerton House in Devon

The National Trust said: “We recognize that banks, including Barclays, need to do much more to address financing for the fossil fuel industry.”

Barclays said it is “working with customers and clients on the transition to a low-carbon business model”.