A former parks and landscape manager for Bradford Council was remembered yesterday as a footpath was officially opened at Judy Woods in his memory.

Tinker’s Trail was named and dedicated in memory of Barrie Tinker, who died suddenly in 2008.

The trail runs through Judy Woods from the Woodside entrance and includes kissing gates as well as picnic sites.

Mr Tinker’s widow Janet, was at the official opening along with the couple’s children Hannah and John.

She said: “We can think of no more fitting memorial for Barrie who would have been honoured to be linked permanently to this woodland trail. When not working, he loved to walk, away from the traffic, and believed that everyone could be enriched by the beauty of natural surroundings.”

The Council’s leisure services department worked with the Friends of Judy Woods to create the footpath which has native shrubs and trees along its route.

The footpath has been funded through the Community Spaces grants programme which is managed by Groundwork UK as a partner to the Big Lottery Fund.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council’s executive member for environment and culture, said: “This new path will open up the beautiful Judy Woods so more people can enjoy the woodland. It is a fitting tribute to Barrie Tinker who worked so hard for the Council in the Parks and Landscape service for 35 years.”

Peter Walker, chairman of the Friends of Judy Woods, said: “We are grateful to a number of people who have helped us with this scheme. We are particularly grateful to Phil Chambers who acted as adviser on the specification of the footpath, Bradford Council Woodland Manager Bob Thorp, contractor Simon Thornton and Ian Butterfield from the Forest of Bradford.

“We were also pleased to be offered additional funding and support from Bradford Council’s Leisure Services to extend the project and provide picnic facilities and other general improvements.”