An Eco-Friendly Sanctuary for Remembrance
At Activists and Agitators, we believe that honouring our past should never come at the cost of our future. The Forest of Ancestry offers a natural, sustainable alternative to traditional burials—a peaceful sanctuary where your loved ones return to the earth to nourish a thriving ecosystem.
Our Mission: Preserving Memory and Nature
The Forest of Ancestry is a dedicated natural burial site for cremated remains. Our commitment is twofold: to preserve the cherished memory of those who have passed and to protect the land and local environment for generations to come. By choosing a natural burial, you are contributing to a living, breathing landscape that celebrates the cycle of life rather than a static monument of stone.
Your Family Tree: A Living Monument
Unlike traditional headstones, your loved one’s resting place is marked by a living tree. You may choose from our selection of native species—such as the sturdy, timeless Oak or the graceful, resilient Silver Birch—to serve as a permanent marker of their legacy. This becomes your Family Tree. It is a sanctuary designed to be shared, allowing future generations—including beloved pets—to find their final resting place beneath the same canopy. It is a true ancestral home that grows more beautiful with every passing year.
The Potted Start: Begin Your Legacy at Home
We understand that the transition of loss is a journey. For those who wish to keep their loved ones close during the initial stages of grief, we offer home burial kits using potted trees. This allows you to start your Family Tree in the intimacy of your own garden or balcony. When you are ready, your tree can be moved from its pot and permanently planted within the Forest of Ancestry, becoming a lasting part of our protected woodland.
Order Your Home Burial Kit
To purchase a Bios Urn or to arrange a home burial service, visit the shop or please contact us directly.
We can provide the guidance and materials needed to begin your family tree today.
📧 Email: lucinda@forestofancestry.com
📞 Phone: 07383 885463
Preserving Our Local Ecosystem: Native Species
To protect the biodiversity of our land, we exclusively use trees native to Northern Ireland. This ensures the Forest remains a resilient, natural habitat for local wildlife. When selecting your tree—whether starting in a pot at home or planting directly in the Forest—you can choose from native varieties such as:
The Sessile Oak: Our national tree, representing strength and endurance.
The Rowan (Mountain Ash):Â Known in folklore as a tree of protection and beauty.
The Silver Birch:Â A symbol of renewal and new beginnings.
The Common Alder: A resilient tree of the wetlands, symbolising the flow of life.
A Homecoming for the Diaspora
For our community living across the globe, the desire to return to Irish soil is a powerful and enduring sentiment. The Forest of Ancestry provides a meaningful way for the Diaspora to come home. Whether your journey took you across the water or across the world, we offer a final resting place beneath the canopy of our native woodlands. By choosing a tree in the Forest, you ensure that your legacy is permanently rooted in the landscape of home.
Our Vision: A Forest in Every County
We are starting a movement. It is our intention to establish our flagship site in County Antrim, my home county and the heart of this project. However, our ambition does not stop there; we intend to expand this vision until there is a Forest of Ancestry in every county of Ireland. We believe every community deserves access to a burial space that heals the earth as much as it heals the heart.
The Environmental Impact: Offsetting Our Footprint
Our goal is not just about remembrance, but restoration. Traditional burial and cremation practices have a significant environmental cost; however, the Forest of Ancestry is designed to give back.
- The Problem: Resource-Heavy Funerals
Across the island, the current infrastructure for death-care is unevenly distributed and carbon-intensive. Currently, the West Coast of Ireland has no crematoriums, while there are only 2 in the midlands (Cavan and Shannon) and 4 serving the East Coast. This often forces grieving families to travel long distances, further increasing the carbon footprint of a final goodbye. Or, they are restricted in how they can bury and celebrate their loved one. - The Solution: Natural Sequestration
By establishing a minimum of 25 acres of native woodland in every county, we can actively offset the emissions associated with the passing of our community. While a standard cremation can release approximately 160kg to 190kg of CO2, a natural burial in a managed woodland like ours has the potential to be carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative through ecological restoration. - A National Network
These 25-acre sanctuaries will act as “green lungs” for Ireland, sequestering carbon, restoring soil health, and providing a permanent habitat for local wildlife. Your legacy becomes a direct contribution to the fight against climate change and we continue to keep the “Emerald Isle” green.
Here is a video compilation of some images from my 32 County Challenge. I started it in 2021, wanting to showcase a gorgeous natural landsscape from every county in Ireland to remind people what we are trying to protect. I have 17 counties complete and hope to add to that this summer (2026). If I am lucky, I will complete it this year!
A Personal Experience for Everyone
• Grief is universal, but mourning is deeply personal. We provide an inclusive environment that welcomes all religions and none.
• Tailored Services: We believe you should have the freedom to say goodbye your way. From the choice of tree to the style of the ceremony, your experience is entirely customisable.
• The Memorial Function Room: Our planned on-site facility will provide a dignified, private space to gather, cater, and share stories, reflecting the unique personality of your loved one.
• A Space for Comfort: We have designed the Forest to be a place of solace. While we all move through the stages of grief at our own pace, the natural surroundings offer a comforting embrace.
Visit and Reflect
The Forest of Ancestry will be open for visitation, much like a traditional cemetery, but with the warmth of a living woodland. We invite you to walk the trails, breathe the fresh air, and enjoy the surroundings while staying close to those we have lost.
