THE family of murdered naturalist David Green forgave his killers at an unusual woodland burial yesterday.

More than 100 friends and loved ones gathered around Mr Green's graveside, in quiet countryside on the edge of Darlington, County Durham.

And the ceremony paid tribute to an unassuming man, who embraced nature's beauty and used his talents to capture it on paper.

The respected illustrator and conservationist, from Darlington, was shot dead in India last month in what is believed to have been a failed robbery.

The Foreign Office confirmed yesterday that three people had been arrested in connection to the killing.

His sister-in-law, Anne, spoke on behalf of the Green family at the funeral, wishing inner peace to whoever was responsible for his death.

She said: "The family hold no resentment against the person who shot David."

Mr Green's reed coffin, decorated in painted butterflies and fresh leaves, was buried in new community woodland, near Skerningham Manor, where he would often walk.

Six native black poplar trees were planted in a circle around him and a seventh directly over his grave.

The chilly wind and drizzling rain did not lessen the emotions, as poignant memories were recalled within the circle around the coffin.

The Reverend David Bryan talked of Mr Green's respect for all wildlife, the deep sense of empathy he conveyed in his illustrations with the things he was drawing, and his love of India.

"I feel a little baffled and angry that someone so gentle should have had his life ended by violence. There is something so meaningless and arbitrary about this," he said.

In a break from people's heartfelt words Mr Green's niece Siobhan Green knelt by his graveside and, playing on her guitar, sang John Lennon's Imagine.

While some people sang along, others reflected on the lyrics and their tears showed a united sadness for the loss of a gentle and kind man, who in his mother Edna's words would not have hurt a fly.

Conservationist Dr David Bellamy, of Bedburn, near Hamsterley, County Durham, praised Mr Green as one of the best illustrators of animals.

Fighting back tears, he said: "I want to make one plea - David please send down a picture of an angel, because you will know what they look like."

Last night, his mother said: "It was such a wonderful service - it was what he would have wanted because that's the kind of person he was."