Richard Baines, the 60-year-old curator of Logan Botanic Garden in Dumfries and Galloway, has died after being struck by a falling tree during Storm Boelo on Sunday. The incident occurred near his home in Mid Kelton, close to Castle Douglas. Baines was pronounced dead at the scene as gale-force winds swept across Scotland and parts of northern England.
Baines had been the curator of the Logan Botanic Garden near Stranraer for approximately two decades. The garden is renowned for its diverse and exotic plant collection, which thrives due to the influence of the Gulf Stream and warm Atlantic winds. Under his leadership, Logan Botanic Garden earned widespread recognition, including awards such as “Best Garden in the UK,” and became the site of the UK’s first public conservatory powered entirely by green energy.
His work extended beyond the garden’s boundaries, with significant horticultural initiatives that included discovering seven plant species new to science. He also developed an internship program that offered hands-on training to students from across the UK and Europe, fostering the next generation of horticulturists. Colleagues and officials praised Baines for his passion, enthusiasm, and dedication. David Knott, director of horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, described him as a warm and genuine individual who was highly supportive of his peers and aspiring gardeners.
Baines was also recognized for his international work, having contributed to botanical projects in locations such as China, the Canary Islands, and Vietnam. Political figures, including Conservative MSP Finlay Carson, expressed condolences, recalling Baines’s positive spirit and national reputation within the field.
Storm Boelo caused widespread disruption over the weekend, with heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and power outages affecting thousands of homes across the UK. At the height of the storm, over 160,000 homes were reported without electricity, with the Energy Networks Association noting around 22,600 households remained without power by Monday afternoon. The Met Office issued weather warnings, forecasting gusts exceeding 70 mph in northern and western parts of Scotland. The severe conditions also led to transportation difficulties, including train service interruptions, flight cancellations, and an incident where a passenger plane skidded off the runway at Birmingham Airport.
In addition to Baines’s death, another fatality occurred during the storm in north London, where a man in his 20s was killed after a tree fell onto his car. There were also reports of injuries from falling trees elsewhere, including two women in Perthshire.
Meteorological forecasts indicate that stormy conditions would persist into Monday, with continuing strong winds and rain, particularly over western and northern regions, before gradually improving as high pressure returns later in the week.