Winston Howes’ tribute to his late wife Janet grew quietly for 17 years before the world took notice. Following her death in 1995, the British farmer began transforming his fields into a living memorial—planting thousands of oak trees in a pattern that formed a perfect heart when viewed from above.
The romantic design remained hidden at ground level, known only to Winston and his close neighbors. That changed when an aerial photograph revealed his masterpiece to the world in 2012, showing the heart-shaped clearing aligned precisely with Janet’s girlhood home.
“I wanted something lasting,” Winston explained of choosing mighty oaks for his tribute. The trees became both his therapy and testament to a love that death couldn’t diminish. Today, the mature forest stands as one of England’s most touching love stories—written not in words, but in leaves and bark.
