LARGER-than-life actor Brian Blessed left his mark on the New Forest yesterday.

The boisterous performer, famous for his trademark loud voice, wowed visitors with an unforgettable performance at the Court of Verderers before taking a walk in the Forest.

Official Verderer Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre admitted: "We've not had a presentation like that for generations."

Brian, 69, had been invited to the Forest, the country's newest National Park, in his role as president of the Council for National Parks (CNP), a national charity.

He boomed: "It's almost like a dream to come here. This court is astonishing. I've never come across anything quite like it. I feel like I should be reciting some Shakespeare."

Brian, who had to be reminded to formally introduce himself, praised the Verderers, the guardians of the Forest, saying their preservation work was "marvellous".

He told how he had visited the New Forest as a boy travelling down from Yorkshire.

Scenes of one of Brian's many films, the 1991 Hollywood movie Robin Hood, Prince Of Thieves, were shot in the Forest. In the film Brian played Lord Locksley, Robin's father.

Recalling his campaign to stop a huge container terminal being built at Dibden Bay, which Brian called his Shangri-La, he said: "It was a clarion call to the rest of the country. If you start chipping away we are going to start to lose our tradition, heritage and countryside.

He added: "We must enhance and protect our national parks."

Brian said the New Forest, like the Peak District National Park, was a victim of its own success and preventing damage to pathways and animals was a big challenge for the new National Park Authority (NPA), which took up its full powers on April 1.

He called the New Forest National Park an "essential national lung" and a "breathing space for the nation".

Brian also heard how after initial suspicions the Commoners had been impressed with the start made by the NPA, and there were good lines of communication.

After his presentation Brian was taken on a walk around Fritham by his hosts, the New Forest Association, the oldest conservation society in the Forest.

He then dashed off to catch a plane to Sri Lanka to visit national parks and endangered animals with the Worldwide Fund for Wildlife.

Brian, who is gaining a reputation as an international adventurer, said he had just completed cosmonaut training in Russia and hoped to visit the International Space Station.

His next film is due out later this year. He plays Duke Frederick alongside Kenneth Branagh in the Shakespearean play As You Like It.