A Commitment to Sustainability
Just as physical life ends and a story lives on, the Arboretum helps with the cycle of life. Bellefontaine is an enchanted forest and a spectacularly colorful botanical garden, full of history and art across 314 acres. Once voted a Best Hidden Gem in St. Louis, we're extending our wings like the butterflies and birds we serve, working to make our community a more sustainable place for years to come.
Our commitment to environmental stewardship is a long-term vision, ensuring that the legacy of “Yesterday. Today. Forever.” extends far beyond our gates into the local and global communities.
Our Three Lenses
In 2018, Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum (BCA) joined the St. Louis Green Business Challenge—a local organization that assists businesses in becoming more environmentally friendly. Starting at the Apprentice Level, we have since graduated to the Innovator Level. This partnership has allowed us to audit and overhaul many outdated systems, and our commitment to sustainability is reflected through three primary lenses:
- Landscape Management and Biodiversity
- Energy Reduction and Resource Conservation
- End-of-life Services
Landscape Management
and Biodiversity
As both a historic cemetery and a Level III Accredited Arboretum—one of only 50+ in the world!—our mission is to support and enhance the grounds as a place of perpetual commemoration. To that end, we implement sustainable landscape management efforts to reduce irrigation and fuel consumption and increase biodiversity across our rolling hills and enchanting gardens.
End-of-Life Services
We believe in providing options that honor a loved one while minimizing their environmental impact. We are a proud Green Burial Council-certified cemetery, offering natural burial, also known as green burial, options that use no embalming fluids, metal caskets, or concrete vaults. This practice allows a body to return to the earth naturally in a biodegradable shroud or a simple casket, such as one made from pine or wicker. You can choose a natural burial in our designated prairie, Evergreen Meadow, or throughout the rest of the Cemetery.
Restoring the Prairie Ecosystem
On your next visit, we encourage you to explore Evergreen Meadow on the northeastern side of the property. This reconstructed prairie-like meadow is intentionally void of trees and dominated by expansive native grasses and flowering plants, making it a unique feature for an arboretum.
Evergreen Meadow is a place where conservation and commemoration meet. It is dedicated to natural burial (green burial) and is accredited by the US Green Burial Council.
This native ecosystem is sustained by controlled disturbance, like prescribed fire. Prairie landscapes are dependent on fire to prevent them from reverting to forests, thus protecting the diverse native flora. The ecological benefits of these burns are sophisticated:
Nutrition Cycle: The fire clears old growth and unlocks nutrients, leading to new seedlings and lush vegetation that provides food for pollinators and birds.
Environmental Protection: The stimulated root growth sequesters more carbon underground, protects against erosion, and helps regulate water infiltration and storage.
We encourage visitors to check our channels for updates on our annual burn operation, which helps ensure a renewed, vibrant landscape for the community and wildlife.
Stay Connected with BCA
Our sustainability efforts are not just behind-the-scenes work. We are an active and integrated part of the community, hosting events like Earth Day, Arbor Day, and our Fall Field Day to share our knowledge and inspire others. Through these programs and our day-to-day commitment, we strive to make Bellefontaine Cemetery a greener, more sustainable place for everyone, from the visitors to the wildlife that call our grounds home.
Contact Us With Questions
If you find yourself with any questions or uncertainties, rest assured that we are here to provide thorough answers and support for each and every one of them.
View Our Calendar
Don't miss out on any important dates; check our full calendar for all scheduled events and activities
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
By subscribing to our newsletter, you can ensure that you are always informed and connected with the latest happenings at BCA, making it a valuable resource for our community.
Volunteer
We would be thrilled to have you join our dedicated Volunteer team and contribute to our mission of making a positive impact in the community!