A WELL-KNOWN Forestry Commission officer who died in December has been described by his brother-in-law as "colourful and popular".

Mr Mike Dunn, formerly of Parkend, was well-known for his work during the 1950s and 60s when there was an increased demand for public access to the Forest, and the few traditional tourist spots were suffering damage from overuse.

Bob Stone, of Coleford, said that his brother-in-law spread the work load by planning, mapping and signposting way marked trails throughout the Dean – often using his own knowledge and artistic skills to write and illustrate the associated guides and leaflets.

He said: "Many other projects such as Beechenhurst and the Biblins log cabin were guided by his hand, and although he had left the Dean before its inception, his favourite project was the construction of the lakes at Mallards Pike."

Before he moved to the Dean and enrolled in forestry school in 1949, Mr Dunn had completed a navigation course and joined the Merchant Navy. But his new found expertise in forestry and forest management, added to his vast knowledge of wild life, led him to become the country's youngest Head Forester and his appointment as Forest Warden with responsibility for public relations and recreation.

A promotion to Chief Forester in 1972 led Mr Dunn to move to Savernake Forest in Malborough where he eventually took early retirement.

It was then that he went back to his beloved county of Dorset with his wife Beth and took on some private forestry management, as well as teaching his six grandchildren the art of sailing and the appreciation of nature.

Mrs Dunn said: "Mike led a very interesting life and during his early career he worked at different Forestry beats and so we found we had to move house a lot. It was something he was used to anyway as he was born originally in South Africa.

"He always had a strong interest in nature and was fortunate to find a career that paid him to do what he loved.

"Sadly Mike has been suffering from ill-health the last 18 months but he always lived life to the full and had a good innings. He would have been 85 in May."