Client: Royal Oak Burial Park

Location: Victoria, BC

Project Description:

LEES+Associates was commissioned by Royal Oak Burial Park to oversee the design of Canada’s first green burial area. A green burial area is a place where individual graves become part of a natural landscape and the entire area becomes a part of the larger, local ecosystem. Royal Oak Burial Park is located in a Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem characterized by a mix of Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Red Alder, Bigleaf Maple, and Western Red Cedar. Arbutus and Garry Oak also grow where conditions permit. Royal Oak’s green burial site, called The Woodlands, will complement the cemetery’s existing forest ecosystem. An informal framework of trees and shrubs will be planted to divide The Woodlands into five “forest rooms.”

As burials occur, a selection of native trees, shrubs, perennials and spring bulbs will be planted in clusters on and around grave sites. Families will be offered a choice of plantings depending on the location of the grave and may be allowed to participate in the planting of their selections. In keeping with best horticultural practices, tree, shrub and wildflower planting will be done seasonally. For some graves, a young tree may be chosen from a tree nursery. Remaining open space will be restored with native grasses and wildflowers. Over time, each area will develop into a distinct “forest room,” with its own unique character, yet blending with the surrounding natural environment. Conventional, individual memorial markers or monuments will not be used in The Woodlands. A series of common memorials built from local stone will be placed in The Woodlands. Each memorial stone will have room for a simple inscription to record the names of the persons buried in the area.