Vestey heir Mark Brown in BP protest

Mark Brown, the fortune possessor of a multi-million-pound trust fund provided by the Vestey family meat fortune, although he is a vegan, is helping to organise eco-protests in London, including demonstrations against oil giant BP's centenary celebrations.

According to the London Evening Standard, Brown is plotting to disrupt a party hosted by BP at the British Museum, which will take place on April 1 - very unfortunate timing, given that it coincides with a mass protest in the City against bankers and comes on the eve of the G20 summit in London, which will also be targeted by demonstrators.

Campaigners, the paper claims, are said to have been emboldened by stunts in recent weeks, including the occupation of Stansted airport and an attack on Business Minister Lord (Peter) Mandelson last week, who was covered in green custard by Leila Deen from the environmental campaign group Plane Stupid.

Mr Brown, 44, a leading figure in the eco-protest movement, co-founded London Rising Tide, the group targeting BP's party. He entered the spotlight in 2000, when he was acquitted after appearing in court charged with organising violent anti-City protests that caused £2m worth of damage.

He has been involved with anti-road protests, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace. Last year he forced Shell to abandon its sponsorship of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year show. His family's wealth, estimated at £750m, comes from the not-entirely ecologically sustainable supply of meat to companies including McDonalds and the Dewhurst butcher chain.

On Rising Tide's website, the group states: "BP has chosen Fossil Fools Day, April 1 2009, to celebrate its centenary. This will take place at the British Museum, where the not-so-great and the far-from-good will quaff cocktails, snaffle canapes and watch a celebratory film. And we will be there too, between 6-7pm, to say 'Your party's over!' Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery." ·