Man Plants Secret Heart-Shaped Forest in Memory of His Late Wife

In a moving tribute to his late wife Janet, Howard Howes transformed grief into a breathtaking symbol of love. After Janet’s passing in 1995 at the age of 50, Howard, then 53, planted thousands of oak saplings on his 112-acre farm in Wickwar, Gloucestershire. At the center, he left a heart-shaped meadow, pointing directly toward Janet’s childhood home on Wotton Hill.

“I came up with the idea after Janet died. It was a flash of inspiration,” said Howard, now 70. “I sometimes go there to sit and think. It’s a lasting tribute that will be here for years.”

The secret meadow remained hidden until hot air balloonist Andy Collett spotted it from above, calling it “the most amazing sight I have ever seen from the sky.” Each spring, daffodils bloom in the clearing, adding to its beauty.

Howard and Janet married in 1962, sharing over three decades together. Today, the heart-shaped forest stands as a timeless reminder that love, even after loss, can grow into something eternal.