Learn from Barrister for Nature, Paul Powlesland, of the momentum flowing from recognition of the right of rivers and nature
Paul Powlesland is a barrister and founder of Lawyers for Nature – an organisation that seeks to represent the natural world, and all those who seek to defend it, in the courts. Its mission is campaigning for the legal rights of nature. Paul specialises in upholding the rights of environmental activists to protest and protect the natural world. He also uses environmental law and regulations to defend trees, rivers and wildlife.
Paul co-founded Lawyers for Nature following his experience providing legal advice and assistance to tree protectors in Sheffield, who were seeking to stop the destruction of thousands of trees in their city. Since then, he has assisted in dozens of campaigns to protect trees, rivers, and other habitats from destruction and has consistently appeared in court to represent Nature. These experiences have shown Paul that our legal system is built on the wrong foundations when it comes to Nature, and that a fundamental shift is needed.
Paul lives on a boat on the River Roding in East London. In 2019, he founded the River Roding Trust, where he works passionately and tirelessly to protect and restore the river, uphold its rights, and speak for the river’s interests. Paul’s relationship towards the river also provides us with practical examples of the way in which our current legal and regulatory system is failing and how Nature guardianship can instead provide a practical, legal, and philosophical way forward. The River Roding Trust has planted hundreds of trees, removed thousands of tonnes of rubbish, opened paths and helped stop major sewage and pollution incidents.
Join us 7 for 7:30 pm in the Clubroom, downstairs At the Chapel – bring along your informed questions for Paul
Please do consider donating £10 if you can, to enable BrueCREW to continue to host events like this, and fund our costs, such as insurance for our Riverfly monitors, and our balsam-bashing volunteers
