A man named Winston Howe planted over 6k trees to honor his late wife, but there was much more to the story. For a decade and a half, his secret was kept hidden until a pilot flew over — and he could not believe his eyes. Now, aerial photos have revealed this widower’s true motivation.
Janet was the love of Winston Howe’s life.
In fact, it was love at first sight for the soul mates, which only grew stronger with each passing day.
After marrying in 1962, the couple moved into a charming farmhouse on 112 acres in the English countryside, where Janet gave birth to their son a short time later. Over the years, Winston and Janet came to share a bond that most only dream of.
Their relationship was solid and strong, their son was healthy and their farm flourished. The life was perfect in their Wickwar, Gloucestershire, Winston and Janet’s dream home for over three decades.
But things would change.
Janet suddenly passed away after 33 years of marriage when she unexpectedly suffered heart failure at just 50 years old, leaving a grief-stricken Winston behind to mourn the loss of his beloved wife. He felt his entire world collapse at that moment. The woman he had loved so much for so long was gone.
Winston was devastated, and no matter what he did, Janet’s departure seemed too much to bear.
To pay homage to his beloved wife, Winston planted 6,000 oak trees in a field near the home they had shared for so many years.
Winston wanted to create a private, sacred place where he and his son could visit on difficult days. Therefore, Winston began planting trees – a lot of trees.
But, there was more to his plan than initially meets the eye. When his work was done, Winston had fulfilled his goal, but the true motivation behind his work remained a secret, hidden in plain sight among the trees. Then, 15 years later, a hot air balloonist flew over the meadow.
In 2012, Winston’s secret was finally discovered when a man named Andy Collett was up in his hot air balloon. He looked down and saw the heart from the sky.
Winston’s beautiful memorial was his very own secret garden for years until Andy happened to cruise over the land, according to General Knowledge & Interesting Facts.
“You can just imagine the love story. 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,” Andy told the Daily Mail.
The tip of Winston Howes’ heart points toward Janet’s childhood home.
Winston also built a hedge around it, too, and every spring, daffodils bloom in the center.
“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,” an emotional Winston told Daily Mail.
Winston said that he sometimes walks to the heart-shaped meadow to think back on the great times he spent with Janet.
“It is a lovely and lasting tribute to her which will be here for years,” Winston said.
Though nothing can bring Janet back to life, Winston can rest assured that she would love the heart-shaped meadow that was made just for her.
And I have a feeling heaven might look a lot like the place he created for his beloved wife…
Losing a loved one, especially a spouse who you’ve built your entire life with, is a nightmare. But this story shows that something good can come out of tragedy.
We just have to wipe away our tears in order to find it — just like Winston Howes did for the love of his life, Janet.
