Frequently asked questions
A Forever Forest, explained with care.
Every Heirloom tree joins a Forever Forest in Canada. These are the questions asked the most. We answer them clearly, so you always know what to expect.
Can't find your question? Contact hello@heirloomtrees.ca.
Forever Forests, explained
Every memorial tree joins a Forever Forest in Canada. Our team cares for it for years to come.
- What is a Heirloom Forever Forest?
- A Forever Forest is a Canadian forest where every Heirloom tree is planted. The legacy is not one tree alone, it becomes part of a whole forest. We measure, monitor, maintain, and report on every Heirloom forest so that you can have peace of mind.
- What makes Heirloom different from other tree programs?
- Heirloom plants every tree in Canada and we give you a choice in which region to plant. When you plant with Heirloom, the impact stays close to home. Your Forever Forest grows here, cared for by Canada's Forest Trust Corporation, and protected for the people and places we share.
Where your tree is planted
We are open and transparent about where your trees are planted. With the use of our Smart Forest technology, your forest is measured, monitored and maintained.
- Where is my tree planted?
- Every Heirloom tree is planted in a Canadian forest and when you request a specific location in Canada, we will accommodate that to the best of our abilities. Your certificate names the region and is identifiable through our Smart Forest platform.
- Can I choose the planting region?
- Yes. At checkout you can pick a province and we plant there when we can. If you have no preference, we plant where the land needs it most.
- Can I visit my tree or the forest?
- For trees at a partner cemetery, visits are welcome. Just follow the partner's on-site rules. For Forever Forests on managed land, we share the region and details, not the specific coordinates. That keeps the site and wildlife safe. Reach out and we'll let you know what's possible.
How the forest is cared for
Forests are living systems. Our foresters look after them so the whole forest stays healthy for years to come.
- How are the forests cared for?
- Every Forever Forest is cared for by our foresters. They work with Canada's Forest Trust Corporation to check on tree health, help wildlife thrive, and in turn this helps with the biodiversity of the area and generally protects against fire and disease. Their job is to keep the whole forest healthy for years to come.
- What happens if my tree dies?
- Your memorial is protected for the life of the whole forest, not just one tree. In any living forest, some trees don't make it - from age, weather, or wildlife - and that's a natural part of a healthy forest. When it happens, new growth takes their place, and your memorial lives on as part of the Forever Forest. Our promise is to the forest itself.
- How is the planting verified?
- Every gift is recorded with the name, region, and partner (where applicable) and we have it identified in our Smart Forest platform which is accessible to any of our families or purchasers.
Why plant trees at all?
Forests are one of the best gifts we can leave for the future. Here is why we care so much about growing them.
- Why do forests matter?
- Forests keep our country healthy. They store carbon from the atmosphere, hold water in the land, and shelter wildlife. In urban spaces, forests and trees cool our cities. A strong forest canopy today means a better tomorrow for Canada and future generations.
What your gift includes
Here's exactly what your gift covers, so you can feel confident giving it.
- What am I paying for when I plant a Heirloom tree?
- You pay for a memorial and a tree in a Canadian Forest. Your gift covers the tree, its long-term care, and your digital certificate and sympathy card.
- Do I own the tree or the land it grows on?
- Your gift is a living memorial - a tree cared for as part of a Forever Forest. It isn't a purchase of the tree, the land, or the wood. Think of it as a lasting tribute that grows, rather than a property you own.
- Am I buying a burial plot or gravesite?
- Heirloom plants memorial trees, not burial plots or gravesites. When a tree grows at a partner cemetery, it is a memorial tree.
Cemetery and funeral home partners
- What does it mean when a tree is planted at a partner cemetery?
- The memorial tree grows on partnering cemetery grounds. It is a memorial, not a burial plot. The rules at the cemetery grounds govern access and conditions of planted memorial trees.
- Who takes care of the tree and the site?
- The cemetery or forest partner cares for the site, our team supports them as needed. Have a question about your tree? Email hello@heirloomtrees.ca.
- Can I leave flowers, ornaments, or photos?
- Items at a partner site follow that partner's rules. Please check with the cemetery or funeral home first.
Family consent and how we reach people
- Do you contact families after a death?
- We only reach out when a funeral home partner introduces us, or the family contacts us directly. We treat every family's privacy and grief with the greatest care. We never gather names from obituaries, and we never send unsolicited messages to families we haven't been introduced to.
- Who does Heirloom work with to plant trees?
- Heirloom is powered by Canada's Forest Trust Corporation. They work with leading planting and forest care partners across Canada. The trees are planted, grown, and planted by Canadians in Canadian Forests. For cemetery memorial trees grown on partner cemetery and funeral home grounds, we work with their respective forestry teams.