A Husbands Extraordinary Tribute: 6,000 Trees Planted in Memory of His Late Wife Reveal a Hidden Love Story
Love often leaves its mark in unexpected ways, but sometimes, it takes root in the most literal sense. In one corner of rural England, a farmer’s devotion to his late wife blossomed into a living monument so breathtaking that it remained a secret for more than a decade—until a hot air balloon enthusiast spotted it from the sky.
This is the remarkable story of Howard Howes, a husband whose quiet act of remembrance transformed an ordinary field into a heart-shaped forest, capturing the imagination of people around the world and proving that true love can outlive even the greatest losses.
A Love Story That Began in Gloucestershire
Howard and his wife, Janet, first met in Gloucestershire in the early 1960s. Like many couples of that era, their romance began simply but grew stronger with time. They shared dreams, built a home together, and eventually settled on a farm in the picturesque countryside near the village of Wickwar.
The couple married in 1962, creating a life centered around family, hard work, and shared joy. Janet, known for her kindness and gentle spirit, loved the rolling hills where she grew up. Her husband admired not just her warmth but also her resilience and passion for life.
For more than three decades, the pair weathered life’s highs and lows side by side, raising their family and nurturing the land they called home.
Loss That Sparked a Living Tribute
Tragedy struck in 1995, when Janet passed away suddenly at the age of 50 due to heart failure. For Howard, the loss was devastating. After more than 30 years of marriage, he was left with silence where laughter once filled the farmhouse halls.
Many widowers struggle to find a way to cope with such grief, and Howard was no exception. But rather than allowing sorrow to consume him, he turned to the land. Inspired by both his love for Janet and her connection to the countryside, he began planning something extraordinary.
Within months of her passing, Howard envisioned a memorial unlike any other—a forest shaped like a giant heart, hidden away in a meadow, pointing toward the village hill where Janet spent her childhood.
Planting a Forest of Love
Howard’s plan was ambitious. He carefully marked out a six-acre field next to his farmhouse and began planting oak saplings—thousands of them. The process took years of patience, determination, and meticulous attention to detail.
In total, Howard planted more than 6,000 trees, forming thick walls of green that enclosed a vast open space. At the very center of the clearing, the design revealed itself: a giant heart-shaped meadow.
The bottom tip of the heart was deliberately positioned to point directly toward Wotton Hill, Janet’s childhood home. To make the tribute even more meaningful, Howard planted daffodils inside the meadow, ensuring that every spring, golden blooms would brighten the space, symbolizing renewal and everlasting love.
“It was a flash of inspiration,” Howard later explained. “I thought of creating a heart after Janet passed away. Once it was finished, we even placed a bench there. Sometimes I go and just sit quietly, remembering her.”
A Secret Hidden From the World
For more than 15 years, the heart-shaped forest remained largely unknown to the outside world. Hidden from ground view by the density of the trees, the meadow could only truly be appreciated from above.
Howard himself occasionally flew over it in small aircraft to admire the design, but otherwise, it was his personal sanctuary—a place of reflection, love, and peace.
“I never thought of it as something for others,” Howard said. “It was for Janet, and for me.”
Discovery From the Sky
In 2012, fate intervened. Andy Collett, a hot air balloon enthusiast, was flying over the Gloucestershire countryside when something unusual caught his eye. From his aerial vantage point, he saw a perfect green heart nestled among the trees.
“I have my own balloon and fly quite often,” Andy explained. “But this was the most incredible sight I have ever seen from the air. It was a flawless heart hidden away. If you were on the ground, you’d never know it was there.”
Andy quickly photographed the scene, and the images soon spread worldwide. Overnight, Howard’s private tribute became an international symbol of devotion, resilience, and love.