Secure $1,500 off your memorial tree
nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains
A more beautiful resting place
Continue the cycle of life when your ashes are mixed with soil and returned to the base of your tree.
A personal memorial ceremony
Your forest steward will help shape a memorial ceremony that reflects your unique personality.
A legacy of protected landscapes
Your memorial helps conserve open spaces and reforest America.
What is the Memorial Trees for Heroes program?
Their “Memorial Trees for Heroes” initiative gives frontline heroes a serene resting place, a personalized memorial service and a legacy of conservation. The company is first offering memorial trees from its protected coastal Mendocino County forest, where families of fallen frontline workers across the country may enroll to reserve a tree. The Memorial Trees for Heroes initiative provides up to $1 million worth of memorial trees to healthcare providers, caregivers and first responder professionals who gave their lives in the fight against COVID-19 at no cost.
The offer aims to give frontline heroes the legacy reflective of the brave sacrifice they’ve made and to help provide some solace for grieving families and loved ones. Funeral and memorial planning can be an incredibly stressful and expensive endeavor. The average traditional burial costs around $8,755, and we hope to ease the burden and cost of planning a memorial for your hero.
It’s our small way of saying thank you for your hero’s incredible service to our country.
What is Better Place Forests?
Better Place Forests offers private memorial trees in a protected conservation memorial forest. Ashes are mixed with soil and returned to the base of the tree during a personalized memorial ceremony, where a customized bronze memorial marker is placed. To learn more about the process, click here. Memorial trees offer frontline heroes a peaceful resting place, a personalized memorial service and a legacy of conservation.
Lock in $1,500 off your memorial tree
today with a fully refundable $95 deposit
Our serene coastal California forest features stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
Point Arena, California
Where are the memorial trees located?
We’ll begin by offering trees to frontline heroes in our coastal California forest in Mendocino county.
To serve areas most impacted by COVID-19, we are seeking to expand to heavily impacted states like New York.
We want to help covid19 impacted areas
FAQs
Can I apply if I don’t live in California?
Yes the Memorial Trees for Heroes is for healthcare providers, caregivers, and first response professionals across America.
The timeline for memorial services in Point Arena is subject to shelter-in-place guidelines for the State of California, Mendocino County, and Better Place Forests. As soon as we are able, we will open the forest to visitors and begin scheduling Memorial Ceremonies. We are happy to begin the planning process with you in advance of opening the forest.
When will a ceremony take place?
Better Place Forests purchases beautiful forest land and conserves it for future generations. We offer private memorial trees in a protected memorial conservation forest. Ashes are mixed with soil and returned to the base of the tree during a personalized memorial ceremony. A customized bronze memorial marker is placed at the tree marking the location.
How does Better Place Forests work?
We would be happy to put you in touch with an Advisor who can tell you more about purchasing a memorial tree.
What if I don’t qualify but am interested in a memorial tree with Better Place Forests?
We are reviewing applications as quickly as possible and will aim to reach out to you within 48 hours of your submission. For those who qualify, we’ll answer any questions you have and discuss the details of selecting a memorial tree for your hero.
When and how will I be contacted?
We will need a death certificate and verification of your hero’s occupation and place of employment. The customer care team will review documentation requirements with you in detail on their call.
What documentation do you require?
If you have land you would like to dedicate to the program, we’d love to be in touch. Fill out this form and a member of our real estate team will reach out.
Do you own forestland you’d like to dedicate to frontline heroes?
How it works
Our mission is to inspire everyone to leave a meaningful legacy for the planet and the people they love. We support families in their end of life arrangements while conserving and protecting natural areas.
Leave a legacy of trees
Your ashes are placed beneath a private tree in a peaceful, protected forest where your loved ones can visit and remember you. Your memorial also helps conserve open spaces and reforest America through our partnership with nonprofit One Tree Planted.
Return to the earth naturally, just one hour from San Jose.
You’re on the list! You’ll be the first to know when we open our Berkshires property.
Secure $1,500 in savings with a fully refundable $95 deposit
You’re on the list!
By continuing, you consent to receive phone calls and/or text (SMS) messages from Better Place Forests for marketing and customer service purposes at the phone number above, acknowledge that these calls and text messages may be generated using automatic dialing or other technology, and agree that you will notify Better Place Forests if you change your number. You can still choose to make a purchase even if you do not consent to these text messages/calls, and your consent to receive text messages/calls does not mean you consent to make a purchase. Message and data rates may apply.
By continuing, you agree to Better Place Forests' Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. By submitting a mobile or landline number to us you agree that a representative of Better Place Forests can contact you at the number you provide, potentially using automated technology (including texts/SMS messaging) or a pre-recorded message. Your consent is not an obligation to receive any of our services.
I love the idea that Better Place Forests will help protect this property and its natural beauty for generations to come. Litchfield Hills is known for its lush greenery and iconic, open spaces, and I’m inspired knowing that this forest will offer such a peaceful way for the families and friends of our community to memorialize one’s life.
Susan K.
“
A more meaningful and affordable resting place
“Not only is a traditional service roughly twice the cost, but you’re very limited on what you get out of it.”
Hear more about why Spencer chose Better Place Forests for his late wife, Sheila, in the video below.
The news is spreading
The news is spreading
“It’s good for the environment, the location is more beautiful than a traditional graveyard, and it’s cheaper as well.”
“As opposed to going to a cemetery and going back each year to grieve the loss of a loved one…going to a forest and being in that peaceful place, I think that’s a great idea.”
“In a time when conservation is becoming increasingly urgent, it’s rather poetic to protect a tree with your remains, secure in the knowledge that more are being planted in your honor.”
A more meaningful and affordable resting place
“Not only is a traditional service roughly twice the cost, but you’re very limited on what you get out of it.”
Hear more about why Spencer chose Better Place Forests for his late wife, Sheila, in the video below.
How much does a Better Place Forrest tree memorial cost?
Pricing starts at $7,400 in Better Place Forests Santa Cruz, and is based on several factors, including: location, setting (views, water features, etc.),
tree species and size, and the number of spreading rights. The average burial, plot, and headstone costs around $15,000 per person.
Where is the forest located?
The forest is located just an hour
south of San Jose in the Santa Cruz mountains, and about 45 minutes from Scotts Valley, downtown Santa Cruz and the beaches of Capitola.
When will the forest be open for tours and ceremonies?
We will be open for forest tours in late fall 2021 before the forest closes on Dec 31. If you aren’t able to visit us in 2021, we’ll contact you in Spring 2022 when we reopen for the season.
We're targeting 2022 to open the forest for ceremonies.
Can I spread my pets’ ashes around my memorial tree?
Yes! We view pets as part of the family and encourage the inclusion of pets in your memorial.
FAQs
FAQs
How much does a Better Place Forests tree memorial cost?
Pricing starts at $7,400 in Better Place Forests Santa Cruz,
and is based on several factors, including: location, setting
(views, water features, etc.), tree species and size, and the
number of spreading rights. The average burial, plot, and
headstone costs around $15,000 per person.
When will the forest be open for tours and ceremonies?
We will be open for forest tours in late fall 2021 before the
forest closes on Dec 31. If you aren’t able to visit us in 2021,
we’ll contact you in Spring 2022 when we reopen for the season. We're targeting 2022 to open the forest for ceremonies.
Yes! We view pets as part of the family and encourage the inclusion of pets in your memorial.
Can I spread my pets’ ashes around my memorial tree?
Where is the forest located?
The forest is located just an hour south of San Jose in the
Santa Cruz mountains, and about 45 minutes from Scotts Valley, downtown Santa Cruz and the beaches of Capitola.
The news is spreading
“In a time when conservation is becoming increasingly urgent, it’s rather poetic to protect a tree with your remains, secure in the knowledge that more are being planted in your honor.”
“As opposed to going to a cemetery and going back each year to grieve the loss of a loved one…going to a forest and being in that peaceful place, I think that’s a great idea.”
“It’s good for the environment, the location is more beautiful than a traditional graveyard, and it’s cheaper as well.”
Exclusive choice of trees
$1,500 off your tree
Tour with an advisor
Enjoy exclusive discounts!
Secure $1,500 off your memorial tree when you place a fully refundable $95 deposit.
Exclusive choice of trees
$1,500 off your tree
Tour with an advisor
A $1,500 credit
Your tour with an advisor
Exclusive choice of trees, including iconic redwoods
Place a fully refundable deposit by 11/2 to secure:
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Your ashes are placed beneath
a private tree in a peaceful forest where your loved ones can visit and remember you.
Leave a legacy of trees
A more beautiful resting place
Continue the cycle of life when
your ashes are mixed with soil and returned to the base of your tree.
A personal memorial ceremony
Your forest steward will help shape a memorial ceremony that reflects your unique personality.
A legacy of protected landscapes
Your memorial helps conserve open spaces and reforest America.
Protecting this vital ecosystem in the Santa Cruz mountains
Available soon — a gorgeous 84-acre forest nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains, located just one hour south of San Jose, and about 45 minutes from Scotts Valley, downtown Santa Cruz and the beaches of Capitola.
This peaceful forest features a spring-fed pond and an impressive diversity of trees and wildlife, all overlooking the Soquel Creek watershed. Stroll along trails through the ancient groves of iconic California redwoods, Douglas firs, tanoaks, and madrones while enjoying unobstructed views of the region’s tallest peaks.
We’re honored to help protect this coastal California forest, using restoration forestry to promote old-growth forest conditions, and offer families a peaceful sanctuary to reflect and remember their loved ones.
Available soon — a gorgeous 84-acre forest nestled in the Santa Cruz
mountains, located just one hour south of San Jose.
Featuring an impressive diversity of wildlife and trees —including iconic California redwoods — we’re honored to help protect this coastal forest and offer families a peaceful sanctuary to reflect and remember their loved ones.