mourn differently by scattering the ashes of the deceased in a private forest

Only the rustle of dead leaves breaks the silence in the forest of Fleurus (Belgium). Mario and his companion, hand in hand, came to admire the autumn landscape, but also to meditate at the foot of a majestic beech tree. The ashes of his daughter, who died at 33, were buried here. “It is a forest that is absolutely not anxiety-provoking. Here I feel really good“, he confides. Like him, others also consider this piece of paradise as their last home. Annie Renard, 68, wants to be far-sighted. “It’s not the same atmosphere as in a cemetery. We are peaceful“, she says.

The price varies from a few hundred euros to much more, depending on the formula or the area chosen. Martina Veekmanvolunteer of the “Les Arbres du Souvenir” foundation, welcomes more and more interested families. “The formula interests many people who are looking for an alternative to mourning, who want to mourn differently“, she explains. Alexia Willemspresident of the “Les Arbres du Souvenir” foundation, is behind the project. In Belgium, unlike France, it is possible to scatter the ashes on private land. The young woman bought 11 hectares of this forest seven years ago to build her project, directly linked to her childhood memories. More than 200 deceased rest in this place out of time.