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 (read this first):
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.
How it supports recognised practice
Upfront risk-spotting: surfaces issues early so you can programme proper surveys and approvals.
Better pre-app dialogue: gives a consistent, neutral record to brief competent specialists and your LPA.
Fewer surprises on site: encourages retention-first thinking and compliance from the outset.