President of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Brian Blessed - Hollywood actor

The son of a South Yorkshire coal miner, Brian Blessed was born in 1936 in Mexborough and grew up in the mining village of Goldthorpe. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before beginning a distinguished and varied career, which has encompassed all media. Brian is now one of this country's best known and most highly respected actors.

After filming Alexander with Oliver Stone in Morocco, Brian Blessed took a day out from his busy schedule to get a quick introduction to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Staff and volunteers met him at Woodhouse Washlands in South Yorkshire to show him some of the work the Trust is doing to protect wildlife and help people enjoy it. He joined a group of local volunteers who were maintaining a hedgerow.

Brian Blessed, the Trust's President, said, ‘I’m 500% behind Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. There is so much vital work going on to look after nature reserves, protect threatened species, like otters and water voles, and, most importantly, help people enjoy wildlife and get involved with practical work. There's a marvellous combination of expert staff and great volunteers, who bring loads of knowledge and enthusiasm. I'm honoured to be President.

"My job takes me all around the world but I never forget I'm from Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is protecting the county for the future. I'd urge everyone to join today. The more members we have, the more work we can do." (Click here to join the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)

In September 2006, Brian joined Trust staff and wildlife documentary filmmakers Chameleon Television at Filey Dams Nature Reserve to film for the BBC Saving Planet Earth series, broadcasted earlier this summer. The series focussed on wildlife in danger across the world and some of England's vulnerable and endangered species; at Filey Dams they filmed great crested newts, Brian's 'favourite of all the beasties'.