Farmer Planted Thousands Of Trees In Heart-Shaped Tribute To Late Wife

A devoted husband made a lasting tribute to his late wife by planting thousands of oak saplings into a heart shape, pointing towards his wife's childhood home.

Farmer Winston Howes wanted to create something to honour the memory of his wife Janet, who died in 1995, so planted out a meadow at his 112-acre farm near Wickwar, Gloucestershire, with oak trees.

The heart can't be seen from ground level but you can check out an aerial view on Google Maps.

Speaking in 2012, Winston said: "I came up with the idea of creating a heart in the clearing of the field after Janet died.

SWNS

"I thought it was a great idea - it was a flash of inspiration - and I planted several thousand oak trees.

"Once it was completed we put a seat in the field, overlooking the hill near where she used to live.

"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."

Winston and Janet were married for 33 years before her tragic death aged 50.

After her death, he hired contractors to come in and create the special heart-shaped meadow, which can only be accessed via a track that leads up to its tip.

Google Maps

Winston added: "We got people in especially to do it - there are several thousand trees.

"We planted large oak trees around the edge of the heart then decided to put a hedge around it too."

The heart points towards Wotton Hill, where Janet is from.

Winston continued: "We plant daffodils in the middle that come up in the spring - it looks great. I go out there from time to time and sit in the seat I created."

The 'secret' tribute was first revealed back in 2012 when a bloke in a hot air balloon flew over and snapped some shots.

SWNS

Hot balloonist Andy Collett said at the time: "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.

"It was a perfect heart hidden away from view - you would not know it was there.

"You can just imagine the love story."

Topics: Interesting, UK

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19