Rights of Nature

Rights of Nature Framework

A commitment to nature

Maidstone Borough Council recognises that nature has intrinsic value and that healthy ecosystems are essential for the wellbeing of people, wildlife and future generations.

In April 2026, the Council adopted a Rights of Nature Framework to help ensure that nature is considered and protected through decision-making, policy development and service delivery.

The framework provides a practical way of embedding environmental considerations across the Council and supports the delivery of the Biodiversity Action Plan and Climate Change Action Plan.

What are the rights of nature?

The Rights of Nature approach recognises that rivers, wildlife, trees and wider ecosystems have a right to exist, recover and thrive.

For Maidstone Borough Council, this means considering the needs of the natural environment alongside social and economic priorities when making decisions and delivering services.

Rights for All Nature

Right to exist and recover

Nature should be maintained and enhanced so that ecological condition improves over time.

Right to protection from harm

Activities should minimise damage to ecosystems and prevent environmental degradation.

Right to be considered in decision-making

Biodiversity and climate impacts should be assessed in all relevant Council decisions.

Rights of Rivers

Right to clean water

Water bodies should be protected from pollution and contamination.

Right to natural flow and function

River systems should retain and restore natural processes where possible.

Right to ecological connectivity

Rivers should support the movement of species and function as part of wider ecological networks.

Rights of Wildlife

Right to habitat

Suitable habitats should be protected, enhanced and expanded.

Right to thrive and reproduce

Conditions should support healthy and resilient ecosystems, including natural regeneration through seeding and propagation.

Right to protection from disturbance

Wildlife should be protected from avoidable disturbance, pollution and harmful land management practices.

Rights of Trees

Right to protection

Trees, particularly veteran and heritage trees, should be safeguarded.

Right to grow and mature

Trees should be allowed to reach full ecological maturity wherever possible.

Right to replacement

The loss of trees should be appropriately mitigated through replacement planting.

Council Commitments

To deliver the Rights of Nature Framework, Maidstone Borough Council will:

Across all services

• Integrate biodiversity and climate considerations into decision-making.
• Ensure all directorates contribute to environmental objectives.
• Embed environmental principles within governance and corporate values.
• Assess biodiversity and climate impacts through committee reporting processes.
• Secure environmental improvements through planning and investment mechanisms.
• Provide a Strategic Champion for Nature for all major decision-making and as a point of contact for residents.
• Provide an Operational Champion for Nature for all internal, operational decision making and as a point of contact for Council staff.

Rivers

• Support improved water quality.
• Help restore natural river processes.
• Work in partnership on catchment-wide issues.
• Encourage community stewardship and monitoring.

Wildlife

• Protect and enhance habitats across Council land and throughout the borough.
• Improve ecological condition through sustainable land management.
• Reduce harmful inputs such as peat and chemicals.
• Support the recovery of priority species.

Trees

• Protect existing trees, particularly veteran and heritage specimens.
• Apply a retention-first approach in planning and land management.
• Maintain tree health through ongoing inspection and management programmes.
• Ensure long-term stewardship of newly planted trees.

Delivering the Framework

The Rights of Nature Framework is not a standalone programme. It is delivered through actions already contained within the Council's Biodiversity Action Plan and Climate Change Action Plan.

Trees

• Tree retention hierarchy.
• Protection of veteran and heritage trees.
• Tree health audit programme.
• Tree Guardian initiatives.
• Requirements of Guardianship within tree planting agreements.
• Native species planting policy.

Wildlife

• Seasonal reptile monitoring in Mote Park and Cobtree Manor Park.
• Expansion of Local Wildlife Sites.
• Green Flag site improvements.
• Wildlife Guardian initiatives.
• Priority species recovery initiatives.
• Soil health monitoring.
• Peat-free Council practices.

Rivers

• River Medway litter-picking activities.
• Nutrient neutrality partnership work.
• Medway river partnership projects.
• River Guardian initiatives.
• River Medway Pilgrimage and Conference.
• Invasive species training and awareness.

Governance and Decision-making

• Biodiversity and climate change input into committee reporting.
• Environmental principles within the Council's We Care values.
• Cross-directorate delivery of biodiversity and climate objectives.
• Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.
• Environmental investment through planning contributions.
• Citizen science programmes.
• Formal adoption of the Rights of Nature Framework.

Current Delivery Activities

Examples of work already supporting the Rights of Nature Framework include:

Monitoring and Reporting

Progress will be monitored through existing Council reporting and performance frameworks.

How we measure progress

Reporting arrangements

Working Together for Nature

The Rights of Nature Framework strengthens the Council's commitment to protecting and enhancing Maidstone's natural environment.

By considering the needs of nature in decision-making and supporting practical action on the ground, the Council can help create healthier rivers, richer wildlife habitats, thriving trees and more resilient ecosystems across the borough.

Champions for Nature