Are memorial trees legit? Yes, memorial trees are legit, but only if you choose the right one. Such as Living Legacy Trees, available throughout Australia, that actually transform cremated ashes into tree nutrients through a patented ash treatment process. Living Legacy Trees can be planted in legally protected forest and gardens such as Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest and Mornington Green Living Legacy Gardens.
What Exactly Are Memorial Trees?
A memorial tree is a type of memorial for a deceased loved one that is typically seen as a lasting symbol of life, where a tree is planted and personalised in remembrance of the deceased. They are a modern way to honor people who have passed on. Families often choose a place that holds special meaning for the person or a place that specialize on these type of memorial service to ensure the tree is cared for, protected, and provides a centre place for connection between generations to come.
What Is A Living Legacy Tree?
A Living Legacy Tree is a legit memorial tree program in Australia where a tree planted in soil that has been infused with the treated ashes of a deceased person or pet. The ashes are treated using the patented Living Legacy liquid to neutralize their pH and salt levels – known to cause trees harm. Instead, the ashes become an incredible nutrient for growing trees, transforming death into life by means of nature.
Living Legacy has perfected the treatment of ashes to create living molecules so a person’s energy can live on through a tree while supporting it to grow healthily. Industry leaders including the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) and Northern Cemeteries in NSW have all adopted Living Legacy as a best practice standard for sustainable memorials.
What About Traditional Programs Of Memorial Trees?
They plant a generic tree with a small plaque. Your loved one’s ashes stay at home in an urn, you often cannot visit the tree and has no real link to the person you are remembering. For many they still want to find something to do with the ashes to honours their life.
Why Are People Choosing Memorial Trees?
Memorial trees are a booming trend! It’s about connecting a memory with new life. You can plant a tree symbolically, or even use special methods like the Living Legacy to nourish a new tree. Exciting scientific approaches like Living Legacy’s ash treatment prove that memorial trees can genuinely create a meaningful, lasting memory while also doing good for our planet.
Warning: Beware Of Fake Memorial Trees And Internet Scams!
The idea of a memorial tree is beautiful, but here’s an important warning: many memorial tree programs are NOT legal. Recent investigations have uncovered companies like consolidated funeral services, where customers paid money but heard nothing back, no proof their tree was planted!
These shady programs often involve:
- Just planting a regular tree with no real connection to your loved one.
- No promise that the tree will even be planted or survive.
- Giving you an unclear certificate without telling you exactly where the tree is.
- No published legal protections, meaning the tree could be cut down or the land developed later.
- Hidden fees and ongoing costs you didn’t expect.
The difference? Real memorial trees (like Living Legacy) use science to infuse ashes into the tree, backed by scientists. The “fake” ones just use fancy donation requests and use unproven devices and internet scams like biodegradable urns.
Let’s be honest, many memorial tree programs are just a gimmick. You pay for a tree “in honor” of someone, but you will likely never see it. You get a certificate, and then what? Is that truly a meaningful connection to your loved one?
It really depends on what kind of “memorial tree” you are talking about.
Are Memorial Trees Real Or Fake?
So, you are thinking about a memorial tree. But do these trees actually get planted? And if so, where?
Here’s the difficult truth about most memorial tree programs out there: They are often just like giving a donation. You pay your money, they might plant a tree somewhere, and you get a fancy certificate, and then … the concept does not really work. The tree’s survival often comes down to luck, budget cuts, or local government decisions. There’s no real promise, no protection, and no true living connection to your loved one’s memory.
We have heard stories from investigations: people paying for trees through certain funeral homes, then being left completely in the dark. They never found out if their trees were planted! This highlights a crucial point that you must choose providers who are open and show proof of their work.
Now, let’s talk about Living Legacy Trees. They are a whole different story. Every single tree they plant, like in Mornington Green Legacy Gardens in Melbourne Victoria or Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest in Western Australia, is in protected nature areas. These aren’t just any old parks that could be redeveloped, or forests that might be cut down one day. These are legally protected memorial forests, with governance and agreements to ensure your tree is cared for forever.
Their Legitimacy comes from being the industry leader for sustainable memorials for over ten years with adoption by government and industry leaders as the best practise standard.
The founder of Living Legacy Tree, Warren Roberts, started this after a personal tragedy. He learned how nature could heal and connect. He then had a beautiful idea to turn human ashes directly into food for a new tree, creating a true, living memorial.
The Best Location To Plant A Memorial Tree
Where is the best location to plant memorial trees? Planting a tree in your own backyard might sound convenient, but people in Australia move house quite often, every 7 to 10 years on average. What happens to that special tree when the house is sold?.
This is exactly why protected memorial forests are the perfect solution. Take for example, The Wellington Dam Legacy Forest in Western Australia. It’s safe because the government has put legal protections (called ‘conservation covenants’) on it. Breaking these rules can even lead to jail time! This special forest also helps bring back endangered animals like Quokkas and Black Cuckatoos, while offering a beautiful spot where families can visit for many generations.
Christina Lisson, who planted her brother’s Living Legacy Tree at Wellington Dam, described it: “Today my brother lives on forever, amongst the beautiful trees… From death comes to life and the circle is now complete.”
Another great spot is Mornington Green Legacy Gardens, a former golf course near Melbourne now becoming a beautiful garden. Both these sites offer year-round visits, guided tours, and most importantly, legal protection. This gives you peace of mind that your loved one’s tree will be cared for permanently.
The Science Behind Memorial Trees: How Human Ashes Really Becomes Tree Food
When you think about a memorial tree, maybe you imagine planting it in the ground, but for a Living Legacy Tree, it’s much more than that. It’s about science!
Did you know human ashes are very dangerous for plants? They are as strong as bleach (pH 11-12.5)! But a research team led by Dr. Mary Cole found a way to change these harmful ashes into good nutrients that trees can actually use. This is the patented Living Legacy Ash Treatment Process.
Without treatment, cremation ashes have way too much salt, at about 200 to 2,000 times what plants can handle. Labs show 90% of plants die in untreated ash soil. The ashes themselves (about 3-4kg) are like scattering over 10,000 cigarette butts into nature. It’s truly harmful.
So, how does Living Legacy do it? Their special process has four scientific steps:
- Making the soil ready
- Using special natural materials and beneficial microbes to bring the soil to life.
- Helping the roots of the tree connect to the treated ash mixture.
- Through a natural process involving soil, tiny microbes, and roots, the ashes are turned into essential nutrients that the tree needs to grow well.
Their patented liquid treatment makes sure that the harmful high pH and salt levels are removed. Instead, the ashes become helpful nutrients like nitrogen and potassium, which are important for a tree to grow strong and healthy. Its called “living molecules” because they help the plant grow, instead of stopping it.
What Kind of Tree Can You Plant In Memory Of Someone In Australia?
Thinking about a living memorial tree tribute for your loved one? With Living Legacy, you get to choose a tree that truly reflects their memory!
If you choose Wellington Dam Living Legacy Forest in Worsley Western Australia, you can choose from majestic native Australian trees. We are talking about Jarrah, Blackbutt, Marri, and various Eucalyptus. These aren’t just any tree. They are forest giants that can live for hundreds of years (300 years+) and grow incredibly tall (30 plus meters). They provide a home for endangered wildlife and create an ever-growing legacy for years to come. Read more about the trees here!
Or perhaps you would prefer the serene beauty of Mornington Green Legacy Gardens in Melbourne Victoria? Here, you can select from beautiful trees like Cherry Blossom, Jacaranda, sturdy Oak, ancient Ginkgo, delicate Japanese Maple, or colorful Flowering Gums. These are chosen for their stunning appearance, their ability to grow in the climate, and their long life, all within a perfect setting. Explore trees at Mornington Green here!
Kevin Kerrison, who chose Living Legacy Trees, said: “It is a really peaceful place to lay your loved one’s ashes under a tree. They can live on as a part of a native tree, and generations of family and friends that were in their lives have a perfect place to visit and just be with thoughts and memories.”
How Much Does It Cost To Plant A Memorial Tree?
You might be wondering, how much does it cost to plant a memorial tree? Let’s compare it to traditional options.
In Australia, regular funerals can cost a lot, anywhere from $17,000 to $38,000, according to Australian Seniors. And get this: the price of a single burial plot in Melbourne cemeteries shot up from $8,675 in 2013 to $41,080 in 2023! That’s a huge 370%, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down.
Now, for Living Legacy Trees, the cost starts from around $2,000 approx at Wellington Dam and $7,000 at Mornington Green. This price include:
- The tree of your choice
- The ceremony
- Special plaque
- Tree maintenance (forever)
- Scientific methods, turning ashes into nutrients
It’s a great deal, isn’t it? Such a price could save your money up to $31,000 while creating something that actually helps the environment, instead of using up a lot of land and resources like traditional cemeteries.
What’s even better? Multiple family members can share the same tree over time, making it a family tree! Up to four people’s treated ashes can help nourish each Living Legacy Tree. And yes, even pet ashes are welcome, which is usually not allowed in traditional cemeteries. Unlike burial plots that often have hidden fees that can go up without warning, Living Legacy Trees have no ongoing costs, ever.
Consider this, city cemeteries already use huge amounts of land (twice the size of downtown areas in Melbourne/Sydney) and consume massive resources yearly (wood for 2,300 homes, steel for 15 Eiffel Towers, concrete for four Pentagons).
A Greener Goodbye: The Power of Living Legacy Trees
Here’s the simple truth: Living Legacy Trees are not only authentic. They are the best memorial tree option in Australia that’s scientifically innovative for the environment, and truly connects between the dead and the lviing. Instead of a grave, you become a part of a growing forest. This forest will provide a home for animals, purify the air we breathe, and give your family a beautiful spot to visit and connect with your living story.
Melody Jones reflected after seeing her husband’s tree: “My husband and I have a tree here. Visited the other month and the sunlight filtering through was so beautiful.”
Ready to choose a legit memorial tree program in Australia? Head to livinglegacyforest.com to discover how your life can grow into something beautiful.
