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Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in July 2012.<\/em><\/p>\n

Howard Howes lost his wife Janet 17 years ago. In the months that followed, he planted thousands of oak saplings in a six-acre field next to his farmhouse, leaving a heart shaped meadow in the middle in her tribute. The point of the heart is facing Janet\u2019s childhood home.<\/p>\n

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The secret heart meadow was revealed after 42-year-old Andy Collett, a hot air balloon enthusiast, flew over the woods and saw the heart, capturing it in all its glory.<\/p>\n
Speaking of his tribute, 70-year-old Howes said: \u201cI came up with the idea of creating a heart in the clearing of the field after Janet died. I thought it was a great idea \u2013 it was a flash of inspiration \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cI 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Howes owns the 112-acre farm near Wickwar, Gloucestershire. He married Janet in 1962, and she died from heart failure at age 50 in 1995.<\/p>\n
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The secret heart is only accessible through a track leading up to its tip.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got people in especially to do it \u2013 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. We plant daffodils in the middle that come up in the spring \u2013 it looks great. I go out there from time to time and sit in the seat I created,\u201d Howes said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI also flew over it myself about five years ago,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Speaking of the tremendous discovery, Collett stated: \u201cI 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 \u2013 you would not know it was there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can just imagine the love story,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
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