Funeral cost: Living Legacy Forest opens Mornington Green
Ever wanted to come back as a tree? A Brighton man has found a way to do just that. Here’s how.
South East
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A sip of water from the Holy Grail is no longer the only path to eternal life thanks to a memorial park being created on the Mornington Peninsula.
Mornington Green will allow people to live on as a tree through a scientific process that treats human ashes so they can be infused into plants.
The technique would be used to transform Bembridge golf course at Somerville into Australia’s first legacy garden.
Mornington Green was created by Living Legacy Forest in partnership with Forest Conservation Australia.
Brighton property valuer Warren Roberts came up with the concept after spending about 1000 hours in the Royal Botanic Gardens in search of peace after the loss of a friend.
“It took the healing power of nature to help me feel again after suffering a terrible numbness and depression that followed my loss,” Mr Roberts said.
“I wanted to help others find that same connection and redefine how we view death.
“Rather than seeing it only as a loss I wanted to find a way we could continue to celebrate that life.”
Scattering untreated cremation ashes – which have the same pH level as bleach – have been proven to damage the environment.
Mr Roberts quit his job and spent years working with scientists to develop a treatment that “detoxified” human ash so it could be safely returned to nature.
The treatment has been adopted by the federal government and approved for use in Australian cemeteries.
Mr Roberts said Mornington Green had the capacity for up to 6000 trees and was chosen for its landscapes, access to water and distance from fire zones.
“It’s a modern alternative to a traditional cemetery that is eco-friendly and sustainable,” he said.
Families and individuals would be able to select their tree and location, attend a planting ceremony and arrange for their ashes to be added to the tree at a later date.
Memorial trees without ashes would also be available for those who wished to be buried rather than cremated.
Prices start at $5500 for a mature tree, ash treatment, plaque and planting ceremony.
