I often come across articles, photos, artistic creations that make me stop and take a second look; they strike a cord, evoke a tear or cause me to respond in a way that I had not imagined. Its was learning the story of Winston Howes and his 'heart of oaks' that sparked such a reaction and that which I would like to share with you. When Janet Howes died 17 years ago, her farmer husband Winston paid tribute by planting thousands of oak saplings on his 112 acre farm in Wickwar, Gloucestershire, leaving a perfect heart shaped centre bare. The 6 acre heart shaped meadow with hedge border cannot be seen from the road and remained a private family secret; a place where Mr Howes and his family could pay their respects and remember the lady he loved so dearly. A well hidden secret; the entrance only being accessible from a track leading up to its tip, was only discovered when Andy Collett, a keen hot air balloonist flew over the wood last week. Otherwise it would still remain a private declaration of love today.
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| Winston Howes with Janet in 1950 |
Such thought went into planting this tribute that the heart even points towards Wooton Hill, where his wife whom died of heart failure in 1952, aged just 50, is from. In the spring daffodils are planted in the centre and a bench has been added for Mr Howes to sit and remember his beloved wife. It reminds me of a beautiful heart warming scene in the film Notting Hill, the one with the bench in the park and the music "when you say nothing at all" that still brings tears to my eyes. It is this heart warming tribute that has triumphed over tragedy and though respectfully private, is such a beauty to have discovered.
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| The heart shaped glade as seen from the hot air balloon |
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