The most moving tributes are sometimes the ones we cannot see. For nearly two decades, farmer Winston Howes held a magnificent secret in plain sight on his Gloucestershire land. Following the death of his wife Janet in 1995, he sought solace in the soil. What began as an effort to cope with grief blossomed into a stunning, large-scale work of art that remained hidden from human eyes at ground level.
With patient determination, Winston planted a small army of oak trees. His plan was architectural and deeply sentimental. He arranged them to form a vast, natural heart, leaving a beautiful grassy clearing in the middle. He aligned the heart’s point toward his late wife’s childhood village, ensuring that even the orientation of his gift was a gesture of connection. The growing trees became a living wall, guarding his secret.
Year after year, the forest matured, and the heart remained a private truth, known only to Winston and his family. It was a sanctuary for reflection, a place where he could feel close to Janet. This all changed in 2012 when the perspective shifted from the earth to the sky. A hot air balloonist, camera in hand, captured the full, breathtaking design from above, finally sharing Winston’s heart with the world.
When asked about his motivation, Winston spoke of the necessity of having a project, a physical outlet for emotional pain. His labor was an act of love that grew literally from the ground up. The resulting forest is a dynamic, breathing memorial that changes with the wind and the seasons, far more alive and comforting than stone or metal could ever be.
The story of the Secret Heart Forest resonates because it is about visibility and faith. Winston worked for years on a masterpiece he might never fully see himself, trusting in its form and meaning. It reminds us that the purest expressions of love are often done without expectation of recognition. They are sustained by the belief that some bonds are unbreakable, taking root in the world around us in the most beautiful ways.
