Love often finds its most powerful expression not in words but in actions that stand the test of time, and few examples capture this truth as profoundly as the tribute created by Howard Howes for his late wife, Janet. More than two decades ago, when Howard was left devastated by the sudden loss of his beloved partner, he turned his grief into a lasting monument that has since touched people around the world.
His vision was simple yet extraordinary: to plant thousands of oak trees across his farmland in Gloucestershire, England, and shape them into a hidden symbol of love that could only be fully seen from above—a heart-shaped meadow at the center of a six-acre forest. Howard and Janet had shared their lives together on a 112-acre farm near Wickwar, where they married in 1962 and built a life rooted in love, laughter, and the steady rhythm of rural living. Their marriage lasted more than 30 years, but in 1995 tragedy struck when Janet, just 50 years old, died unexpectedly of heart failure.
For Howard, the loss was unbearable, and he struggled to move forward in the emptiness left behind. Yet out of his sorrow emerged a remarkable idea: to honor Janet by planting a living, breathing memorial that would grow for generations to come. With determination and care, Howard began planting oak saplings in carefully arranged rows so that, when viewed from the air, they would frame a heart-shaped meadow in the middle of the dense woodland.
The point of the heart faced toward Wotton Hill, where Janet had spent her childhood, connecting her memory forever to the landscape she had once called home. The project required immense effort. Thousands of young oaks were planted, with larger trees forming the borders of the heart to make the shape clear and enduring. Howard even added a hedge to define the edges more sharply, ensuring the heart would be visible for years as the trees grew tall. Over time, the once-empty field transformed into a forest that not only stood as a testament to Janet’s memory but also became a thriving habitat for wildlife.
Each spring, daffodils bloomed within the clearing, filling the heart-shaped meadow with bursts of golden yellow, a reminder of renewal and beauty in the wake of loss. For Howard, the forest became both a place of reflection and a source of comfort. He installed a bench overlooking the clearing and often visited it to sit quietly, think about Janet, and feel close to her again. He once explained, “I sometimes go down there, just to sit and think about things. It is a lovely and lasting tribute to her which will be here for years.” His creation was never meant for public attention, but rather as a private sanctuary of love and remembrance.
For years, the heart-shaped meadow remained a secret known only to Howard and a few locals, hidden in plain sight among the rolling fields. That changed when Andy Collett, a hot air balloon enthusiast, happened to drift over the farm one day. From the sky, he spotted the heart’s full form nestled in the middle of the woodland and was stunned by its beauty. He captured photographs that quickly spread, and suddenly Howard’s private act of devotion became a story that resonated far beyond Gloucestershire. “I have my own balloon and am quite a regular flyer, but this was the most amazing sight I have ever seen from the sky,” Collett said.
“It was a perfect heart hidden away from view—you would not know it was there. You can just imagine the love story behind it.” Once revealed, Howard’s tribute became a global symbol of enduring love. What began as a deeply personal project of grief and remembrance evolved into something larger—a reminder to the world that love, even when touched by death, can live on in powerful and beautiful ways. Despite the attention, Howard remained humble, insisting that his forest was never about recognition but simply about honoring Janet in a way that reflected the depth of his devotion.
Over the years, Howard continued to tend the forest, ensuring it grew strong and healthy. He planted daffodils each spring to brighten the meadow and occasionally walked down to the bench to sit in quiet reflection. He even took to the skies himself, flying over the heart to see it as others had, finally witnessing the full scope of the living tribute he had created for the woman he loved. The story of Howard and Janet is one of loss but also of the power of love to endure and transform. His forest is not just a collection of trees—it is a living narrative etched into the countryside, a reminder that grief can be turned into beauty and that love can shape the world in ways that last far beyond a single lifetime. For those who glimpse the heart-shaped meadow from above, the message is unmistakable: true love never fades; it only takes new forms, waiting to be discovered by those who look closely enough.
