By Oliver Jameson • February 28, 2026 • Share
Winston and Janet Howes were married in the British town of Stroud in 1962. They lived together happily in South Gloucestershire for many years as farmers raising a family. That was until disaster struck in 1995 when Janet died of heart failure after 33 blissful years of marriage. She was only 50 years old.
It was then that Mr. Howes decided to create a beautiful tribute to the love of his life. It was a well-kept secret until a hot air balloon flew over it in 2012 and the balloonist noticed artistically arranged trees.
Keen hot air balloonist Andy Collett, 42, from Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, was on one of his regular balloon flights in July 2012, when he noticed the grand romantic gesture hidden in the middle of the six-acre field. He said, speaking to the Telegraph: “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.”
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, continuing “It was a perfect heart hidden away from view – you would not know it was there.” The sweet tribute can only be seen from an aerial view, so it’s no wonder it was a hidden gem of the Gloucestershire countryside for 17 years.
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