Lewes Becomes England's First Town to Grant Legal Rights to Trees

Lewes Town Council in East Sussex approved, by unanimous vote, a municipal Tree Charter that formally recognises the intrinsic value of every tree, hedgerow and forest within the town. The charter declares that local flora have the right to flourish, maintain natural life cycles and perform ecological functions, positioning Lewes as the first English town with such comprehensive protection. Councillors Matthew Bird and Dinah Morgan highlighted the role of trees in climate resilience, flood mitigation and air quality, especially after a series of record heatwaves.

Although the charter does not confer new legal powers, supporters view it as a cultural shift that could bolster resistance to development and felling requests. The initiative aligns Lewes with an international movement granting legal personhood to nature, following examples in Bolivia, Panama and New Zealand, and comes as the Forestry Commission temporarily closed public access to large woodland areas after devastating wildfires. Local environmental groups are now encouraging neighbouring councils in the River Ouse catchment to adopt similar frameworks.