Frequently asked questions

Mornington Green is a botanical memorial garden on the Mornington Peninsula. Cremated ashes are safely treated and infused into the soil at the base of a chosen tree, creating a Legacy Tree instead of a grave or headstone. Over 1,500+ Legacy Trees grow across the gardens today, and visitors are welcome year round.

Mornington Green was co-founded by Warren Roberts and Luke Roberts in April 2020 on a former golf course property on the Mornington Peninsula. The mission is to connect people to the beauty that life creates by planting living memorial trees and gardens which honour and perpetuate life.

The Living Legacy Formula is a patented biological treatment that transforms cremated ashes into living molecules. It safely converts ash, which is otherwise toxic to soil at a pH of around 12, into micronutrients such as nitrogen and potassium that feed the roots of a chosen memorial tree. The formula works on a wide range of soil types and on both Australian native and exotic European trees.

Many people now choose a sustainable, environmentally friendly memorial over traditional burial or scattering. A common option is a biodegradable urn, but the urn breaks down while the cremated ashes remain toxic to soil and tree roots due to their high pH and salt content. A Legacy Tree is a better alternative: ashes are first detoxified using the patented Living Legacy Ash Treatment, then infused into the soil to feed a chosen tree, cared for by expert horticulturists. For every Legacy Tree planted, an additional 400 trees are planted across Australia and abroad in high-need habitats.

Scattering ashes is permitted in Australia. In most cases, permission from the local council or landowner is required, unless you own the land yourself. We advise against scattering, however, because untreated ashes have a high pH and salt content that harms the soil and ecosystem of the place being chosen. The Living Legacy treatment converts ashes into living molecules so a person's energy can live on through trees. Read more here.

Cremation involves placing the deceased inside a purpose-built cremator at around 1000 degrees celsius for 1 to 2 hours. The remaining ashes and bone fragments are processed into a fine powder and returned to the family. Cremated ash is extremely alkaline, with a pH similar to bleach and oven cleaner, which inhibits soil health, photosynthesis and water absorption.

There are no restrictions from the Australian Department of Health, but each postal service sets its own policy. Call ahead, be fully transparent about what is being sent, use tracked shipping, and apply any required labels.

Research by Adelaide's Centennial Park found that 160 kilograms of carbon dioxide is produced on the day of a cremation, almost four times more than a burial. Long-term grave maintenance produces even more carbon. Planting a single tree generally offsets the carbon impact of cremation, and Mornington Green plants 400 additional offset trees in the buyer's name across Australia and abroad for every Legacy Tree.

Yes. The treated ashes of up to 4 people can nourish a single Legacy Tree, with the LL Thrive formula infused into the soil at different times. The tree becomes a living heirloom passed down through generations.

Yes. Larger trees can hold larger volumes of ashes, and adding multiple sets of ashes to a tree over time turns it into a true family tree.

Trees need a pH of around 5 to 6 to grow, but cremated ashes have a pH of 12 out of 14, plus a high salt content of around 2 cups per set. At these levels, the ash sets like concrete and the tree grows around it rather than from it. Even biodegradable urns do not solve this — the urn breaks down, but the ash remains harmful. Our organic treatment converts ash into micronutrients that genuinely feed tree growth, an approach now adopted by leaders in the cemetery industry.

Yes, but it is still not good for them. Large established trees can sometimes survive small amounts of untreated ash, growing around the buried mass rather than from it. The harmful impact on soil can last hundreds of years, as historic cases of buried remains have shown. Legacy Trees are different because they grow from the treated ashes, continuing the circle of life.

Independent laboratory tests showed 90% of seedlings died when planted directly in untreated cremated remains, due to toxic shock from the high pH and salinity. Biodegradable urns only solve the urn — the ashes inside still remain toxic to roots for years. The Living Legacy treatment shifts the chemistry of the ash so it can release micronutrients into healthy soil. With a Legacy Tree, the cremated remains are transformed into nutrient elements small enough to be transported into the tree roots through the LL Thrive formula, creating a true living memorial.

Yes. Ashes do not have a "used by" date. The Living Legacy procedure has been proven to work with cremated ashes dating back to the 1960s.

Founders packages start at $8,000 including GST, with no hidden fees and no ongoing costs. Each package includes a tree of choice, perpetual care, a planting ceremony with photography, and other inclusions. According to ASIC, the average funeral spend in Australia is $19,000, so a Legacy Tree is a more affordable alternative as well as an environmentally beneficial one.

Yes. Each tree gets a custom plaque, and the plot is reserved in perpetuity with no other tree planted in the same area. Plaques and markers are guaranteed for the natural lifetime of the product, but this guarantee does not cover environmental damage, force majeure, or mishandling by the buyer or invitees. Mornington Green is not liable for ongoing maintenance of the plaque itself.

Your purchase includes the ongoing exclusive right for the chosen ashes and Legacy Tree to be planted in your Legacy Garden area. It may also include the option to permit other people's ashes to be infused into the same tree or into other Legacy Trees within that area.

Yes. A tree can be selected and planted today, growing as part of family history, then nourished with micronutrients from ashes later on. Up to 8 additional family members can be added to the same Legacy Tree over time.

Yes. Forest Conservation Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 59 639 330 617) operates fully under Australian Consumer Law, with additional warranties provided on top as part of our commitment to excellence.

The land is protected by a conservation agreement and cannot be developed or logged. Care of the land is held by an associated not-for-profit landcare company responsible for its upkeep in perpetuity.

The site has over 4 kilometres of fully integrated sprinkler systems, plus dam and bore water capacity to provide over 20 litres of water per tree per day. The location was selected for low fire, flood and drought risk, sits about 300 metres from Western Port Bay, and does not adjoin any high-risk uncleared bushland.

Any tree that dies is replaced at our cost, in the same chosen location, with the site protected in perpetuity. Mulch and seedlings from the original tree are reused where possible. Our biological infusion sustains the tree for around seven years, long enough for it to establish. If a tree dies prematurely, one application of bio-liquid re-activates the microbes in the soil so a new tree can be planted in the same spot. A crystal keepsake is also provided so a small portion of ashes or seeds can be kept for future planting.

Certified horticulturists provide ongoing care for the tree in perpetuity, so it will always be looked after for future generations.