A tribute in book form is being made to farmer Paul Warburton tragically killed in a farming accident nearly two years ago.

Profits from the sale of a book of walks will go to the Thames Valley and Chilterns Air Ambulance which airlifted him to hospital after he was fatally injured by his combine harvester.

Mr Warburton, 62, of North Farm, Shillingford, near Wallingford, was an enthusiastic walker and formed a walking group with his friend, Dr Tim Huins, of Warborough.

At the time of the accident in August 2004, they had completed 61 walks in South Oxfordshire and now the group has 115 walks under its belt.

In Mr Warburton's memory, Warburton's Walks, a selection of 24 round walks has been published. They are all clearly mapped and accurately described in a pocket-sized book.

His colleague, Michael Brodie, described Mr Warburton as "a wonderful character a true countryman and a great supporter of village life".

Mr Warburton was an award-winning farmer and conservationist and was named the south's greenest farmer by English Nature.

He planted trees and copses and farmed with wildlife in mind. He said his main aims were to "improve the image of farming, grow food for a hungry world and provide a shelter for wildlife".

Mr Warburton was born in Oxford and christened in Dorchester Abbey, went to prep school in Brighton and St Edward's School, Oxford.became an agricultural merchant for 21 years before moving to the 520-acre North Farm in 1987.

He was chairman of the local Conservative branch, a member of the National Farmers' Union and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and was on the parochial church council at St Laurence's church, Warborough, where his funeral was held. He wrote widely on farming for local magazines and newspapers.

Last year, members of the CPRE planted a tree in his memory in Bullcroft park, Wallingford.

  • Warburton's Walks costs £5.95 and is available at local bookshops and libraries. To order directly, call 01865 858665 or email timhuins@oaktrees1plus.com