SIR Patrick Stewart, who used to have a bolt hole in Hebden, has become one of the first to be made an honorary member of Welcome to Yorkshire’s new membership scheme.

The actor, who was born in Mirfield, and Captain Sir Tom Moore, who was born in Keighley, have been made the first members of the scheme open to those across the world with a connection to the county.

The My Ymembership scheme is free, but a tree will be planted for every paid annual £25 membership.

Sir Patrick said “I was born in Yorkshire 80 years ago and for the first 17 years of my life Yorkshire gave me the inspiration, access to hard work and people to meet that led me to choosing the career of an actor. For 20 years I lived in a house on a hilltop in Wharfedale and the joy, the tranquillity, the beauty of this place has never left me even though I have left the house. I am so proud to be having a tree named after me on behalf of Welcome to Yorkshire. Thank you. And, remember, you can always tell a Yorkshireman, but you can’t tell him much.”

Welcome to Yorkshire will be planting trees with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust at a North Yorkshire site, and at sites to be announced in East, South and West Yorkshire.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive James Mason said: “This is a fabulous membership scheme to connect the diaspora of people across the world who have Yorkshire roots or just a love of Yorkshire.

“Members will benefit from a host of offers and entry into prize competitions, Yorkshire’s newsletters, online inspiration and each paying member will have a tree planted in the beautiful county of Yorkshire.

There will be the option to buy further trees for loved ones to celebrate birthdays or as a novel way to remember loved ones.”

David Sharrod, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, added: “Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust are working with many supporters and partners such as Welcome to Yorkshire to plant 100,000 additional trees across the region.

“Trees are hugely valuable as a habitat for wildlife supporting some of our most endangered woodland animals, like red squirrels, dormice and cuckoos.

“They are also important for our mental health and wellbeing and we believe that everyone should have access to them. The appeal aims to raise funds to create beautiful woodlands that everyone can enjoy for years to come. This will be more important than ever as we emerge from the current crisis, and it’s great to have the support of Welcome to Yorkshire who care about our local environment and communities. We’re really excited to work with Welcome to Yorkshire and their members and look forward to welcoming them to the woodlands they’re supporting.”

Find out more about becoming a My Y member at www.yorkshire.com/becomeamember