Better Place Forests - Point Arena

What a beautiful, heart-warming forest. In late October, my three grown children and I visited for the first time. The weather was perfect with sunlight filtering through the trees. We knew at once this was the perfect place for my late husband's ashes. Jessica guided us through a compassionate gathering to mix Bill's ashes with rich local earth and flower petals, then to scatter the mix beneath his tree. Our thanks to Jessica for her kindness in guiding us through an emotional and beautiful time.

I have had nothing but a very supportive and wonderful experience with Better Place Forests, from the beginning of the process of selecting a tree in honor of my husband through his memorial service. The forest in Point Arena is beautiful and peaceful--a wonderful final resting place for a loved one. The Better Place Forests team responded to all of my emails and requests promptly and was very patient with all of my questions. They made the process smooth and easy during a very stressful time in my life. The memorial service was absolutely lovely; Gillian and Jessica went to tremendous lengths to accommodate my mother, who had difficulty walking and reaching my husband's tree. They put together a lovely ceremony honoring my husband. I revisited his tree a week after the memorial service, and they had placed the beautiful brass marker I had ordered in a perfect location. All in all a truly lovely experience.

The summer solstice celebration at Better Place Forests exceeded any expectations I may have had. The event was very well attended. Refreshments were tasty and tastefully presented. My husband and I brought a picnic lunch and spoke to many lovely people with whom we all share the forest. We shared stories about our departed loved ones and saw each other's tree locations. We enjoyed the beautiful sunshine, and made lovely bouquets to place at our trees using flowers from Gillian's garden. Thank you so much for creating this wonderful event and celebration!

Jessica was a kind, knowledgeable, and patient guide for me and my guests in the forest. It was a beautiful, chilly day. We all enjoyed the beauty of the trees and the serenity of this environment.

I am so glad that my husband and I found Better Place Forests years ago. Visiting yesterday with a friend whose Aunt’s cremains are there was so peaceful. It really reinforced our decision. And my friend was so pleased to see the beautiful forest where her Aunt is now buried.

We enjoyed our visit very much. The Better Place Forest is such a calm, beautiful, respectful place. The staff had set up a bench for us to sit and enjoy our Family Memorial Tree. This visit we noticed a brand new Redwood Sorel plant starting to grow heavenward. We were refreshed and renewed. Thank you!

I am grateful that I found Better Place Forests. In the midst of deep grief, it was so helpful to honor my beloved wife by mixing her ashes with those of our two precious pups into the rich soil of the forest, and then have a beautiful ceremony at our amazing Tanoak tree, with family and friends. Gillian and the other stewards were wonderful throughout all the communication leading up to the memorial, and at the ceremony itself. With their help, I was able to create a personalized design for the gathering that included my wife’s poetry as well as her paintings, and allowed time for memories to be shared. It was a powerful experience for everyone. I look forward to visiting our tree again, and I love knowing that when my time comes, my ashes will join theirs in such a peaceful, serene place.

It’s just a year since my husband died. Only 7 months since family joined me to scatter his ashes around the roots of his lovely tree, which stands tall and strong on a slope facing a Better Place Forest’s Founders’ Memorial. Yesterday I visited my husband’s tree with my sisters to support me. We and many others had gathered there to celebrate the forest around the Summer Solstice, sort of an open house. Ten to fifteen minutes drive from Point Arena, CA, the Better Place Forest is peaceful, stunningly beautiful, and a wonderful spot to visit to remember my dear husband. Others were visiting as well on Saturday, but, given the BPF covers some 20 acres, our visit still felt private and serene. The sight of his sturdy tree comforted me, as if his ashes had nourished it. We took advantage of the herbs and flowers station to make a small bouquet which we laid at the base of his tree. The staff were kind and welcoming (Alethea, both young women named Jessica, and a fourth young person whose name I cannot recall - I thank them all.) The pretty welcoming center sits gracefully nearby. A restroom is available there plus maps of the pathways for strolling. I’m grateful BPF exists because of my husband’s tree and because I’ll be added to it when I’m gone.