Logan Botanic Garden curator Richard Baines, 60, killed by falling tree in Storm Boelo

Mixed · 2Richard Baines, 60, the curator of Logan Botanic Garden near Stranraer, died after being hit by a falling tree during Storm Boelo on the morning of Sunday 25 October 2026. 1 2 Centre · 1He was walking near his home in Mid Kelton, just outside Castle Douglas, in Dumfries and Galloway, when the tree fell; the BBC said this was its understanding. 1 Left · 1Police Scotland said a 60-year-old man was struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton around 10.30am and was pronounced dead at the scene; it said there were no suspicious circumstances and a report would be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course. 2

Centre · 1David Knott, director of horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which runs Logan as one of its four Scottish gardens, said colleagues were "desperately sad, devastated" and described Baines as warm, with a genuine sense of humour, who made time for colleagues and supported the next generation of horticulturalists. 1 Mixed · 2Knott said Baines would be remembered for his passion and enthusiasm for plants and for significantly expanding Logan's plant collection, and that he was primarily responsible for developments including the UK's first public conservatory powered by green energy. 1 2 Mixed · 2Baines also took part in and led fieldwork in China, the Canary Islands and Vietnam, from which seven plant species new to science are being published, and under his tenure Logan was voted "Best Garden in the U.K." by Which? in 2021, according to Knott's statement carried by the Mirror. 2 1

Centre · 1The BBC also reported that Knott said Baines coined the description of Logan as "Scotland's most exotic garden", and that the garden benefits from the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. 1 Centre · 1Storm Boelo swept across Scotland over the weekend and into Monday, causing flooding, travel disruption and power cuts, with an amber wind warning in place from Saturday night. 1 Centre · 1On Saturday, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team said ten members carried out "one of the most gruelling callouts our team had faced in recent history" to reach an injured runner in the OMM mountain challenge on Curleywee; a coastguard helicopter had to turn back. The organisers, who faced social media criticism for letting the event go ahead, said the course was closed and all competitors accounted for before the amber warning took effect at 21:00. 1