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Tree Page Guide: Information on Tree Preservation

Explains how the Tree Tool works, and how unapproved felling of trees can have serious (and possibly criminal) consequences

Oliver Lewis avatar
Written by Oliver Lewis
Updated over a week ago

The Preliminary Tree Assessment Tool supplements established practice by helping you spot potential tree-related constraints early, organise your thinking, and decide what professional checks you’ll need next. It does not authorise any works to trees, and NOTHING in any Joe’s Blooms documentation is designed to encourage tree removal, lopping, topping, or interference with trees.

What the tool does (and doesn’t) do

It does

  • Provide purely informational, desktop-level screening to flag where further professional input may be needed.

  • Help you structure early-stage conversations with your arboricultural consultant and the local planning authority (LPA).

  • Support good practice by signposting constraints and prompting timely, competent surveys and consents.

It does not

  • Replace a site visit or professional judgement.

  • Replace British Standards processes or outputs (e.g., BS 5837 tree surveys and impact assessments, or BS 3998 tree work recommendations).

  • Act as permission, consent or a professional recommendation to remove, lop, top or otherwise interfere with any tree.

Important notice


This tool is a purely informational, desktop-level screening tool; it is not a permit, consent or professional recommendation to remove, lop, top or otherwise interfere with any tree. Decisions about tree works should be taken only after a site visit by a qualified arboricultural consultant and, where necessary, discussion with your local planning authority or the Forestry Commission.

Please be aware that felling trees without permission can result in serious consequences.

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