The heir to a multi-million-pound trust fund is helping to organise eco-protests in London including demonstrations against BP's centenary celebrations.

Mark Brown, a vegan who lives off the proceeds of the Vestey family meat business, is plotting to disrupt a party hosted by the oil giant at the British Museum.

The BP celebration on 1 April 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.

There are fears that a loose union of eco-activists, anti-globalisation protesters and hardcore anarchists will cause chaos in the City before moving on to the British Museum for the BP party.

Campaigners will have been emboldened by stunts in recent weeks, including the occupation of Stansted airport and the "sliming" of Lord Mandelson.

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 1999, charged and acquitted with organising violent City protests that caused £2million damage.

There are fears the 1 April demonstrations could also spiral out of control.

Mr Brown 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. Mr Brown's family's wealth, estimated at £750million, is derived from meat supply to companies including McDonald's and the Dewhurst butcher chain.

On Rising Tide's website, the group states: "BP has chosen Fossil Fools Day, April 1st 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."

A Rising Tide activist said: "BP are holding their reception at a semi-public building when hundreds of protesters are going to be in London. It is an own goal by BP and will be exploited fully."

A BP spokesman said: "We will carry on with our private event as planned while they carry on their protest. Security is not really our responsibility but I am sure that will be looked after by police and others."

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