Better Place Forests Review: What Memorial Forests Cost and How They Work

What Better Place Forests Offers

Better Place Forests is a memorial forest network that lets families dedicate a tree in a protected woodland as a final resting place for cremation ashes. Instead of a cemetery plot with a headstone, you get a GPS-mapped tree in a managed forest, with the ashes placed at the base.

The company operates forests in California (Point Arena, Santa Cruz), Oregon, and is expanding to additional US locations. Each forest is held under a conservation easement, meaning the land is legally protected from development in perpetuity.

The appeal is straightforward: your memorial is a living tree in a forest rather than a marker in a manicured lawn. Families can visit, walk through the woods, and sit beneath the tree.

How It Works

1. Choose a forest and a tree. You visit the forest (or browse online) and select a specific tree. Each tree is identified and GPS-mapped.
2. Purchase the dedication. Pricing varies by tree size, species, and location.
3. Place the ashes. After cremation, the ashes are mixed with soil and placed at the base of the tree by the forest team or the family.
4. Visit anytime. The forests are open to families year-round. Some locations offer trails, picnic areas, and gathering spaces for ceremonies.

What It Costs

Better Place Forests is significantly more expensive than most memorial tree options:

• Shared grove trees (smaller, shared area): starting around $1,000–$3,000
• Individual trees (standard size): $3,000–$10,000
• Large or old-growth trees (premium locations): $10,000–$30,000+

These are one-time fees that include perpetual stewardship. The conservation easement means ongoing forest management is funded, and the land cannot be sold or developed.

For comparison, planting a memorial tree on your own property costs $100–$500 for a nursery sapling and soil amendment. A biodegradable urn runs $100–$350. The difference is that Better Place Forests provides protected land, professional forestry management, and a specific location that will remain a forest indefinitely.

What Families Appreciate

Permanence. The conservation easement is a genuine legal protection. Unlike a backyard memorial tree that could be removed if the property is sold, a forest-dedicated tree has legal permanence.

The experience of visiting. Walking through a living forest to visit a memorial is genuinely different from walking through a cemetery. Families describe it as more peaceful and less clinical.

No maintenance responsibility. The forest is professionally managed. You do not need to water, mulch, or protect the tree — the forestry team handles ecological stewardship.

What to Consider

Cost is the main barrier. For a family on a limited budget, spending several thousand dollars on a tree dedication may not be practical when the same ecological outcome — ashes nourishing a tree — can be achieved for a few hundred dollars on private land.

Geographic limitation. Better Place Forests currently operates in a handful of US locations. If you live far from a forest, visiting becomes a pilgrimage rather than a regular occurrence.

Ashes only. The service is designed for cremation ashes. Families wanting a whole-body natural burial will need a GBC-certified conservation cemetery instead — a different type of facility with different cost structures.

No religious affiliation. The forests are secular. Catholic families should be aware that the Church requires ashes to be interred in consecrated ground. A tree in a commercial forest, even one with a conservation easement, may not satisfy this requirement. Discuss with a priest before committing.

Alternatives to Consider

Conservation cemeteries like Ramsey Creek Preserve (SC), Honey Creek Woodlands (GA), or Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery (FL) offer a similar concept — natural burial in protected land — but accept whole-body burials and typically cost less ($2,000–$6,000 for a plot and opening/closing). Some include native tree planting as part of the burial.

DIY memorial tree planting on your own property gives you full control over species selection, ceremony design, and ongoing care. The upfront cost is minimal, but you carry the maintenance responsibility and the tree is not legally protected beyond your ownership of the land.

Other memorial forest networks like Memory Forests and The Living Urn's partner forests offer similar services at varying price points. Compare location availability, conservation protections, and what is included in the fee.

Making the Decision

Better Place Forests is a premium option for families who value permanence, professional management, and the experience of a protected forest. It is not the only way to create a living memorial — and for many families, a simpler approach works just as well.

The Tree Pod / Living Memorial Guide includes a provider comparison worksheet covering memorial forests, conservation cemeteries, and private-land planting, along with soil preparation protocols and ceremony planning templates for whichever path you choose.