The Trees Committee of Friends of Lewes have launched a “Special Trees” Project to celebrate the wonderful trees in our Arboretum Town.
It is a first step towards developing a Tree Charter for Lewes that acknowledges the Rights of Trees.
We are inviting people of all ages to send us a photograph of a tree that they think is special. It could be special to you because of its colour, shape, because it welcomes you home every day, or for any other reason!
The tree must be in a public space in the town of Lewes – so that we may invite other people to visit it.
Email your photograph with a note of “what makes it special for you” to arboretum@friends-of-lewes.org.uk
We plan to display the photographs at Lewes Climate Hub, 32 High Street, during Heritage Open Days, 12th-13th September 2026, and publish them on our website and social media.
The photograph shows the Ginkgo biloba in Abinger Place – a favourite tree of Brian Courage, Town Ranger
He told us: “The more I look, the more favourite trees I start to see which is, I suppose, the reason for acknowledging they are all special and need to have their rights acknowledged. The first one that came to mind is the Ginkgo biloba on Abinger Place. The leaves are such a lovely shape and particularly beautiful in the autumn. It’s one of many trees in the town that helps to frame its location and would change the landscape in the area if it weren’t there. The plaque in front of it states that it is the site of the Manor pound, across the road from the Town stocks so it is clearly a historical site despite the tree being a relative newcomer. The Ginkgo biloba can live for 1000 years plus, and I wonder what it might witness in its future.”
We look forward to hearing from you!