On a stormy Sunday morning, a man who spent much of his life coaxing rare and tender plants into flourishing in the mild, Gulf Stream-warmed south-west of Scotland was struck down by a falling tree near his home in Mid Kelton. Richard Baines, 60, long-serving curator of Logan Botanic Garden, leaves behind a collection he expanded, a reputation for generosity, and a community of gardeners who now speak of him with grief and gratitude. His death, like the storm that caused it, reminds us how closely the gentle work of cultivation stands to the forces of weather beyond anyone's control.
Tributes paid to Logan Botanic Garden curator Richard Baines, killed by falling tree in Storm Boelo
Richard Baines, 60, the curator of Logan Botanic Garden, died after being hit by a falling tree during Storm Boelo.
He always made time for individuals
Mark
Why does Richard Baines's death land so hard beyond the garden itself?
Mimi
Because the tributes are so personal. His colleague David Knott kept returning to the fact that he made time for people, especially young horticulturalists coming up behind him.
Mark
And professionally, what did he leave behind?
Mimi
A bigger plant collection at Logan, the UK's first public conservatory powered by green energy, and fieldwork in China, the Canary Islands and Vietnam. Seven new species were catalogued from Vietnam.
Luke
Careful with that last one. The report says seven species came from the Vietnam fieldwork he took part in and led. It doesn't say he alone discovered them.
Mark
Fair. What do we actually know about how he died?
Mimi
He was hit by a falling tree on Sunday morning during Storm Boelo. It's understood he was walking near his home in Mid Kelton.
Luke
Note that phrase, understood. The location comes from that wording rather than a confirmed account. Nothing yet on the circumstances beyond that.
Mark
The report also covers a mountain rescue and the OMM event. Is that connected?
Luke
Not to his death, as far as the reporting goes. It's the same storm, a different incident, on Saturday.
Mimi
It shows the weather's severity. Ten rescuers struggled to reach an injured runner, and a helicopter turned back.
Luke
And the criticism of OMM is from social media, while the organisers say the course was closed before the 21:00 amber warning. Those are competing accounts, not settled fact.
El Pulso
- A falling tree during Storm Boelo claimed the life of a beloved garden curator near his Dumfries and Galloway home.
- Flooding, power cuts and travel disruption rippled across Scotland as an amber warning held through the weekend.
- Colleagues and political figures scrambled to honour a man remembered for warmth, humour and tireless advocacy for Logan.
- Mountain rescue teams battled torrential rain and boggy ground to save an injured OMM runner, while organisers faced criticism over the event going ahead.
On a stormy Sunday morning, a man who spent much of his life coaxing rare and tender plants into flourishing in the mild, Gulf Stream-warmed south-west of Scotland was struck down by a falling tree near his home in Mid Kelton. Richard Baines, 60, long-serving curator of Logan Botanic Garden, leaves behind a collection he expanded, a reputation for generosity, and a community of gardeners who now speak of him with grief and gratitude. His death, like the storm that caused it, reminds us how closely the gentle work of cultivation stands to the forces of weather beyond anyone's control.
Richard Baines, 60, died on Sunday morning when a tree fell on him near his home in Mid Kelton, just outside Castle Douglas, during Storm Boelo. For many years he had been the curator of Logan Botanic Garden near Stranraer, one of four Scottish gardens run by the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.
Colleagues describe a man who always made time for people. David Knott, the Royal Botanic Garden's director of horticulture, said the colleagues were devastated, and that tributes kept returning to one quality: Baines was warm, funny and generous to the next generation of horticulturalists. It was Baines who coined the description of Logan as Scotland's most exotic garden, and he worked tirelessly to promote both the garden and the south-west of Scotland.
Under his leadership Logan grew significantly, including the first public conservatory in the UK powered by green energy. He led fieldwork in China, the Canary Islands and Vietnam, where seven plant species new to science were catalogued. Finlay Carson, the local MSP, who had known Baines since school, remembered a remarkable friend with a warm smile and infectious enthusiasm for life.
The death came as Storm Boelo swept across Scotland, bringing flooding and power cuts. On Saturday, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team spent hours reaching a runner injured during the OMM event in the Minnigaff Hills, carrying them off the hill through torrential rain. OMM organisers, who closed the course before the amber wind warning took effect, have faced criticism online for holding the event in such weather.
Richard Baines, 60, died on Sunday morning after a tree fell on him during Storm Boelo in Dumfries and Galloway. He was the long-serving curator of Logan Botanic Garden near Stranraer. It is understood he was walking near his home in Mid Kelton, just outside Castle Douglas, when the accident happened.
David Knott, director of horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, told BBC Scotland News that colleagues were desperately sad and devastated. Logan is one of four Scottish gardens run by the Royal Botanic Garden. Knott said Baines had warmth and a genuine sense of humour, and that people had repeated one theme in tributes that morning: he always made time for individuals. He added that Baines was supportive of colleagues and provided opportunities for the next generation of horticulturalists.
Logan is known for its exotic plants, which thrive because of the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. Knott said Baines came up with the description of Logan as Scotland's most exotic garden, and worked hard to promote both the garden and the south-west of Scotland. He will be remembered, Knott said, for his passion and enthusiasm for plants and for significantly expanding the collection at Logan.
During his tenure Baines was primarily responsible for major developments, including the first public conservatory in the UK to be powered by green energy. He also took part in and led fieldwork in China, the Canary Islands and Vietnam; the Vietnam work led to seven plant species new to science being catalogued. Knott described his contribution to Logan and to the Royal Botanic Garden's wider work and culture as immeasurable.
Finlay Carson, the Scottish Conservative MSP for Dumfries and Galloway, also paid tribute. He knew Baines as a former school friend, and called him a remarkable gentleman and a good friend to many, with a warm smile, a kind word and an infectious enthusiasm for life. Carson said Baines' work at Logan had earned national recognition and had brought credit to his profession and to Galloway.
Baines died as Storm Boelo crossed Scotland, bringing flooding, travel disruption and power cuts over the weekend and into Monday. The wind picked up on Saturday, and an amber warning was in place from Saturday night.
On Saturday, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team responded to what it called one of the most gruelling callouts in its recent history. It was called to Curleywee in the Minnigaff Hills to help a runner injured during the OMM mountain challenge. In a Facebook post, the team said 10 members pushed through torrential rain, severe wind and unforgiving boggy ground to reach the casualty. A coastguard helicopter had to turn back because the weather was worsening. The team carried the runner off the hill with help from OMM safety team members, then handed the runner to the Scottish Ambulance Service.
OMM has faced some criticism on social media for letting the event go ahead in poor weather. A spokesperson said the course was closed and all competitors accounted for before the amber wind warning took effect at 21:00 on Saturday, and that the event team assessed the forecast continually, with competitor safety guiding every decision. The organisers said they would make a donation to the mountain rescue team, as is usual at OMM events whether or not a callout occurs.
Citas Notables
Richard's contribution as an enthusiastic plantsman and curator has been immeasurable, and he will be deeply missed by many.— David Knott, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
His expertise, commitment and achievements brought credit not only to his profession but to Galloway as well.— Finlay Carson MSP
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