Outdoor Memorial Ideas

Choosing an Outdoor Memorial

For many people, being outside in nature is calming and healing. Creating a outdoor memorial can create a space to sit and reflect and remember your loved one. We hope that amongst the following ideas you find something that is meaningful and feels right for you and for the person you are remembering.

Planting a Shrub or a Memorial Tree

Planting a shrub, a tree or a garden of trees in their memory is a beautiful way to celebrate their life and contribute to the environment. You might plant one shrub in a place that was special to them or that reminds you of them, or a number of different ones, each of which could represent a different aspect of their life or personality.

Depending on where you are placing your plant, you could have a wooden or metal marker with their name, and maybe a short quote or tribute.

For more ideas and information, please see Inspiration Memorial Plants, Trees and Seeds.

Memorial Bench

A bench set in a private garden or in a special location provides a place where people can sit and remember. It may be somewhere they used to walk, near their favourite view, or in a park or garden.

The bench could have a plaque with their name and perhaps a short quote or tribute. This provides a connection for both those who knew them and also strangers who might sit and enjoy the same view.

Rock Garden, Wild Flower Meadow, or Rose Garden Memorial

If you have a suitable space, creating a rock garden, or an area containing their favourite flowers and plants, provides an enduring tribute to your person. The rocks could be placed in a meaningful pattern, or can have a special engraving. A plaque or marker can be placed in a wild flower meadow or amongst the plants.

To discover more ideas and information, please see Inspiration Memorial Plants, Trees and Seeds.

Water Feature Memorial

The sound of gently running water can be beautifully calming, providing a backdrop to reflect and remember. Water features come in all shapes and sizes, for both small back yards, patios and larger spaces. It might be a pond, fountain, or stream, symbolising the flow of life.

The water feature memorial could include an object or figure that meant something to that person, perhaps an animal or a plant, and might have a plaque with their name placed on it.

Wind Chimes Memorial

Hanging wind chimes in a place that holds significance to the person who has died, or to those closest to them, can create a soothing sound and represent their spirit. The gentle chimes can bring the person to mind and sooth the soul. They could be customised with a special message, character, or symbol.

Memorial Pathway

A winding pathway through a garden or along a nature trail could be dedicated as a memorial. Each stone, tile, or marker along the path could have a special message or name.

Sun Dial Memorial

A sundial placed in a quiet garden can be a beautiful and lasting tribute, symbolising the passage of time. The sundial can be engraved with their name, dates, and a special message or quote.

Memorial Sculptures and Memorial Artwork

Commissioning a sculpture or a piece of artwork in a park, nature reserve, or in your own garden can be a wonderful, long-lasting tribute to your your loved one. The piece might reflect their personality, interests, or a key aspect of their life. The sculptor or artisan can work with you to create something that is both beautiful and meaningful.

Memorial Candles or Lanterns

A collection of lanterns or candles placed in a natural setting, such as a garden, can be lit on special occasions in their memory, or whenever you wish to sit and feel close to them. Candlelight provides a warm, comforting focus for reflection and remembering.

Birdbath, Bird Feeder or Bird Box Memorial

For a bird or nature lover, a birdbath or a bird feeder placed in a garden or on a patio can symbolise the person’s connection with nature. Visiting birds can provide an ongoing reminders of their presence. The birdbath or feeder can be engraved with their name or a few meaningful words. 

Digital QR Code Memorials

QR codes linking to a digital memorial page can be applied to many surfaces and materials. These days, they are often placed on headstones and other memorials so that visitors or a passerby can find out about the person who has died. To find out more, please see Digital Memorials & QR Codes.

Memorial Plaques and Markers

Memorial plaques and markers can be placed in many different outdoor spaces. They may be in a woodland setting at a natural burial ground, in a private garden, or (with permission) in a public space. Memorial plaques are sometimes placed on buildings, particularly for someone well-known or in the public eye. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and designs, and can be custom made to reflect the life and personality of the person they are remembering.

Unique and Unusual Memorial Ideas

Anything that reminds you of your person and their favourite places or pastimes can become a memorial to them. It might be a hedgehog or bee house, a colourful outdoor mural or a garden grotto. Think about what feels right for you and for the person you are remembering.

Find Further Helpful Information About Stonemason and Memorials

Find more information about choosing a memorial in our Information about Stonemason and Memorials.Or for comprehensive information about planning a funeral, celebration of life, or memorials service, please see whiteballoon’s Funeral Planning Information.

Find Suppliers of Headstones & Stone Memorials in the whiteballoon Community

If you would like to find suppliers of headstones and memorials, please go to our Provider Directory for Stonemasons & Memorials.