In a touching story that first made headlines in 2012, a British man named Howard Howes created a lasting tribute to his late wife, Janet, by planting thousands of oak trees in a six-acre field near his farm in Wickwar, Gloucestershire. The remarkable memorial includes a heart-shaped clearing in the middle of the forest, carefully positioned to point toward Janet’s childhood home on Wotton Hill.
Howard Howes posing with his late wife Janet, Photo Credit: Facebook/British Heart Foundation
Howard and Janet were married in 1962, and she sadly passed away in 1995 at the age of 50 due to heart failure. Grieving her loss, Howard came up with the heartfelt idea of forming a symbolic heart in her memory. His project involved planting several thousand oak trees around the perimeter, with a seat placed within the heart where he could sit and reflect on their life together.
The existence of the heart-shaped meadow remained a secret for years until hot air balloon enthusiast Andy Collett, 42, flew overhead and discovered the breathtaking sight. Collett described it as the most remarkable view he had ever seen from the sky, calling it a powerful and hidden expression of love.
Leave a Reply