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In September, Lewes became the first town in England to recognise the rights of all trees by adopting a Tree Charter developed by the Rights of our Trees group (ROOTs).

The Charter was guided by the Rights of Trees, Woodlands and Forests Toolkit, which I created with students at the University of Sussex Environmental Justice Law Clinic.

Recognising the rights of trees at this local level of governance sets out practical commitments and next steps for the Town Council. These include supporting tree guardianship, developing a local Rights of Trees Strategy, protecting significant trees, and working with local partners to strengthen Lewes’ natural environment for future generations.

Beyond these commitments, the Charter starts new conversations in Lewes and elsewhere about the intrinsic value of trees. It invites us to see trees as living beings within communities of which humans are part, with value in themselves, rather than simply as objects, resources, commodities or assets. This approach is in line with the rapidly growing global Rights of Nature movement. While the Charter does not create legally enforceable rights in England, developments elsewhere show what stronger legal recognition can look like. Ecuador’s courts have applied constitutional Rights of Nature to the Los Cedros forest, while New Zealand law recognises Te Urewera as a legal entity.

Rights-based approaches recognise trees’ inherent value and call for stronger protection, especially for ancient, veteran and other significant trees under threat. They also encourage carefully planned restoration. Many towns, including Lewes, fall short of recommended tree canopy cover, while access to trees remains unequal. Rights of Nature offers one way to build better relationships with the rest of nature and move towards living in harmony with it.

It was an emotional and proud moment to see our toolkit used so effectively when Lewes Town Council unanimously adopted the motion we had helped to draft. The response in the UK and beyond has been remarkable. I hope many more communities will take inspiration from Lewes, Rother and other rights of trees initiatives.

Dr Joanna Smallwood is Associate Professor in Law and lead of the Environmental Justice Law Clinic at the University of Sussex School of Law, Politics and Sociology.

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