Seventeen years after losing his beloved wife Janet, 70-year-old farmer Howard Howes created one of the most touching tributes imaginable—a heart-shaped meadow hidden among thousands of oak trees.
The six-acre heart, planted on his farm near Wickwar, Gloucestershire, points directly toward Janet’s childhood home, symbolizing the lasting bond they shared.
A Living Memorial of Love
Howard and Janet married in 1962 and spent more than three decades together before Janet passed away in 1995 at just 50 years old. In the months that followed, Howard poured his grief into a lasting tribute. He planted thousands of oak saplings across a wide field, leaving a heart-shaped clearing at the center.
“I came up with the idea after Janet died—it was a flash of inspiration,” Howard explained. “We planted several thousand trees, and once it was completed, we put a seat overlooking the hill where she grew up. I sometimes go there just to sit and think about her. It’s a lovely and lasting tribute that will be here for years.”
A Hidden Heart Revealed
For years, the secret heart remained hidden from public view, only accessible by a small track leading to its tip. Then, in 2012, balloonist Andy Collett happened to fly over the area and spotted the meadow from above.
“It was the most amazing sight I’ve ever seen from the sky,” Collett said. “It was a perfect heart hidden away—you would never know it was there. You can just imagine the love story behind it.”
Beauty in Every Season
The meadow is more than just a shape in the trees—it’s alive with beauty. Howard and his helpers planted daffodils in the heart, which bloom each spring, adding vibrant color to the green oak backdrop. Over time, the trees have grown into a forest that continues to thrive, keeping Janet’s memory alive.
A Love Story Etched in Nature
What began as a private gesture of grief has become a symbol of devotion that touches everyone who hears about it. The heart-shaped meadow stands not only as a memorial to Janet, but also as a reminder of how love can be expressed in ways that last far beyond a lifetime.
Howard’s tribute shows that even in loss, love can grow—sometimes quite literally—into something breathtaking and eternal.
A love story written in the landscape, Howard’s hidden heart meadow is proof that true love always leaves its mark.
