This morning the first natural space enabled to deposit crematory ashes by planting a tree in memory of loved ones was presented in Méntrida, Toledo. Recordarium, El Bosque del Recuerdo, is an eco-forest of more than 10 hectares of land made up of a group of olive trees, vines, trees of different species, a pond, natural terraces, an open meadow and an independent garden for the memory of pets. which is called Animalia Recordarium, in which the ashes of pets can be deposited, both by spreading them and by planting a tree.
The initiative, promoted by four Spanish entrepreneurs, represents the first legal and ecological alternative to the traditional cemetery, while promoting the recovery of the area’s biodiversity, through the planting of native trees and flora, at the base of which the ashes are buried. .
In a clear commitment to ecology, all the materials used to carry out the project are respectful of the environment, even the roads are made with the gravel of the land. Likewise, all the products used for burial are ecological.
For Ana González Alonso, one of the founding members of the project, “Recordarium offers a safe, legal and natural environment in which to deposit the ashes from the cremation of our loved ones. This contributes to the reforestation of the space by creating a forest, a way to complete the cycle of life and making the memory of our loved ones live forever”.
More than 15 species of trees
The space has an olive grove, a vineyard, a pond, an open meadow, a lavender plantation and a rosemary plantation where the ashes can be spread. From 199 euros you can hire the right to use these spaces, with the utmost respect for the ritual or ceremony chosen by the family members.
In addition, there are 13 native tree species to choose from; from cypresses, strawberry trees or oleanders, to ash, alder and willow trees, all of them with different sizes. These trees are planted by burying the ashes at their base, which biodegrade with the earth and serve as fertilizer for the trees, so that in each tree “the memory survives and the cycle of life is completed.”
Spain is among the 20 countries with the highest incremental rate of cremation. According to data from the INE and a report by Panasef, an increase of 56% in cremations is expected by 2025, with an average of 65% cremated. For this reason, the company is working on an expansion plan in line with social evolution.
In the large capitals the figures are much higher, as is the case in Madrid, with a figure forecast for 2020 of 78% of cremations. Of all of them, the sector estimates that 50% of relatives do not know what to do with the ashes.
For its creators, “this space responds to a demand from society.” “In several countries, new environments are being developed, outside the traditional cemetery, which offer a more current, natural and positive solution to deposit the ashes,” they point out.
According to the promoters of the project, modern societies have evolved in their way of understanding loss, mourning and the memory of loved ones. Beyond religiosity and spirituality, psychologists and mental health professionals indicate that rites or symbolic farewell acts make it easier for the grieving process to take its course.
“Recordarium fits in with current attitudes towards death and, above all, it provides a novel response to the needs that arise from cremation. A different proposal that revolutionizes the traditional codes of funeral services,” says Ana González Alonso.
Facebook Comments
Disqus