Collie forest rises from ashes

The ashes of more than 100 people have been incorporated into memorial trees in the Wellington forest, forming part of a world-first initiative. The Living Legacy Forest arose last year providing people with a way to pay their respects to a loved one. Legacy founder Warren Roberts came up with the idea as he struggled to deal with the death of his best friend. “The more time I spent in nature the more I enjoyed being alive once more,” he said. “I started off doing this because I wanted other people to have a place to go to where they can connect to the beauty that someone’s life created, rather than leaving them connected to what they lost. “Planting trees with people is always a really beautiful experience, there is something cathartic and real about the process.” In the past year more than 100 trees have been planted and Mr Roberts is hoping this forest will be one of many. “It has been amazing seeing the power of what a community can do and create,” Mr Roberts said. “Not only is the forest the first of its kind, it is the first fully dedicated forest that creates habitat for native wildlife that has been created from human ashes. “In the last year we have spotted quokkas and bandicoots on site which is proof that the habitat we are creating is working and doing its job.” While it has been extremely rewarding, Mr Roberts said creating a thriving ecosystem had come with challenges. “I think we killed 200 trees in the first six months in the laboratory,” he said. “We did a scientific analysis and found out that human ashes have the same pH level as oven cleaner and weigh 3kg and eventually found a way to treat the ashes so that biology could co-exist with them.” Leschenault Community Nursery partnered with Living Legacy to support the planting of trees in the forest and manager Jess Humphries visits the site weekly to ensure it is well maintained. “Since its inception the forest has been popular,” she said. “It’s so cool to see these trees that have been planted by people who have lost a loved one, it gives them something to go out to visit, sit under and touch and is good for the environment. “The trees will eventually grow into the bush behind them and it’s like this big circle of life that keeps on giving, it’s just amazing.”