Lewes in East Sussex has officially granted rights to its trees, becoming the first town in England to do so.

The decision has been announced following a local council vote to adopt a new municipal 'Tree Charter', which 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.

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

Councillor Matthew Bird from the Lewes Town Council comments:

"[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.”

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.