The English town that has given trees the same rights as humans

Lewes in East Sussex has become the first town in England to officially grant rights to its trees, following a local council vote to adopt a new municipal "Tree Charter".

The measure, approved by Lewes Town Council in a unanimous vote on Thursday, formally acknowledges the “intrinsic value” of all local trees, hedgerows, and forests.

Flora in town has “the right to flourish and to maintain their natural life cycles, ecological functions and evolutionary processes,” says the motion.

While British waterways and individual trees — such as an ancient yew in the neighbouring Rother district — have previously secured local legal declarations, the motion represents the first town-wide protection framework for all trees in the area.

Globally, the decision aligns Lewes with a growing international "rights of nature" movement, where countries including Bolivia, Panama, and New Zealand have passed national legislation granting legal personhood to forests and rivers.

For green campaigners, the decision comes at a crucial time, where earlier this month, the Forestry Commission temporary banned public access to over 200,000 acres of woodland after record numbers of wildfires scorched the UK this Summer.

Councillor Matthew Bird from Lewes Town Council spoke to The Independent about the potential impacts of the policy: “[It is] a powerful statement ... It goes without saying that trees in Lewes play a vital role in the town’s nature and local ecology, not just in the open spaces and parks but across the town’s streets and public spaces.

“They are living assets that have an important role in the town’s wellbeing and climate resilience, something we were reminded of in summer’s numerous heatwaves.”

Councillor Dinah Morgan, who brought forward the motion earlier last year, said: “In time we hope that the concept of working with trees in 'partnership' to protect and enhance our environment will supercede the idea of trees being a passive resource.”

While critics have observed that the charter does not grant new legal powers or create binding statutory laws, Cllr Morgan hopes it will be part of creating a “cultural shift” in the way the local environment is treated.

The move is also hoped to provide local authorities and residents with stronger leverage to oppose developments as well as increasingly common felling requests.

Following five record-breaking heatwaves this Summer, the initiative also aims to encourage social awareness regarding the essential environmental role of urban canopy cover, including flood prevention, air purification, and carbon capture.

Lewes holds a rare designation as one of only two official "arboretum towns" — an area which is internationally accredited for its diverse, conserved, and well-managed tree population — in the country, alongside Sidmouth in Devon.

Local environmental groups are now working with neighbouring councils across the River Ouse catchment area to adopt similar rights-of-nature frameworks.