This weekend CCA members held a pilgrimage from the site of the Sycamore Gap Tree to the National Trust AGM in Newcastle upon Tyne. At the start of the pilgrimage, time was taken to reflect on how the cutting down of the Sycamore Gap Tree can be seen as a metaphor for the tree of life – with men felling biodiversity through its causing of the 6th mass extinction in our world.

After 3 days of walking, CCA members arrived at the National Trust AGM, where we protested outside. The National Trust bank with Barclays, the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe, and so we were outside of the AGM urging them to drop the bank. The National Trust are aware of Barclays record of funding devastating fossil fuel projects and it’s poor ethical rating across a range of different areas, but despite this are continuing their ties with the bank.

Some members of CCA also went inside of the AGM, and had conversations with members of the board. The National Trust AGM is a place where resolutions are put forward, that members of the National Trust can vote on. Several members of CCA put forward resolutions and all climate related resolutions were voted on positively, including one resolution regarding the Climate and Nature Bill, one about strengthening the response to the climate emergency, and a third about 50% of all food in National Trust cafes being vegan.

A big well done to everyone who took part in this action