AWARD-WINNING GARDENER, 60, KILLED BY FALLING TREE DURING STORM BOELO AS HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTES POUR IN

Richard Baines, the much-loved curator of Logan Botanic Garden in Scotland, died after being struck by a falling tree while walking near his home. Colleagues have paid tribute to his extraordinary contribution to horticulture and the legacy he leaves behind.

A respected gardener and botanical expert has died after being struck by a falling tree during Storm Boelo, leaving colleagues, friends and Scotland’s horticultural community mourning the loss of a man remembered for his passion, warmth and remarkable achievements.

Richard Baines, 60, was walking near his home in Mid Kelton, close to Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, on the morning of Sunday, October 25, 2026, when the tragic accident occurred.

Emergency services were called shortly after 10am. Despite their response, Mr Baines was pronounced dead at the scene.

His dєatᩚh came as powerful winds swept across Scotland, bringing dangerous conditions, disruption and damage in several areas.

But beyond the severe weather headlines, the tᩚraɢedy has left a profound sense of loss among the people who knew and worked alongside a man whose professional life was devoted to plants, gardens and botanical discovery.

‘HE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED BY MANY’

Tributes have poured in for Mr Baines, who served for many years as curator of Logan Botanic Garden, near Stranraer.

David Knott, director of horticulture at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, described his contribution to the garden and the wider organisation as immeasurable.

He praised Mr Baines for his enthusiasm for plants, his leadership and the lasting improvements he helped bring to Logan.

Mr Baines played a central role in developing the garden’s collections and introducing significant initiatives that strengthened its reputation as a leading horticultural destination.

His colleagues remembered not simply an accomplished professional, but someone whose dedication and enthusiasm helped inspire others.

For those who worked alongside him, his dєatᩚh represents the loss of a valued colleague whose influence extended well beyond the garden itself.

A LASTING LEGACY AT LOGAN BOTANIC GARDEN

During Mr Baines’s tenure, Logan Botanic Garden achieved several important milestones.

Among the developments he helped oversee was the introduction of the UK’s first publicly accessible conservatory powered entirely by green energy, according to tributes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

The garden was also voted the UK’s Best Garden by Which? in 2021.

It became the first garden in Scotland to receive gold in the Green Tourism business awards and achieved five-star visitor attraction status from VisitScotland.

These accomplishments reflected years of work to expand the garden’s appeal while demonstrating how horticulture and environmental sustainability could work together.

Yet his legacy was not limited to awards and infrastructure. Colleagues also highlighted the substantial expansion of Logan’s plant collection under his care.

HIS PASSION FOR PLANTS TOOK HIM AROUND THE WORLD

Mr Baines’s work extended far beyond Scotland.

He participated in and led botanical fieldwork in China, the Canary Islands and Vietnam, contributing to research into plant diversity and discovery.

According to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, this work has contributed to research on seven plant species that are currently being published as new to science.

The discoveries reflect the importance of botanical fieldwork in documenting plant life and deepening scientific understanding of the natural world.

For Mr Baines, horticulture was more than maintaining a beautiful garden. It was a lifelong commitment to understanding, protecting and sharing the remarkable diversity of plants.

That passion, colleagues said, was one of the qualities for which he would be remembered most fondly.

STORM BOELO BATTERED SCOTLAND

Mr Baines died as Storm Boelo brought severe winds and heavy rain to parts of Scotland.

An amber warning for strong winds had been issued, with gusts reaching around 70mph in exposed coastal areas, according to reports.

The storm caused disruption across the country, including damage, transport problems and power cuts.

Police Scotland confirmed that officers had been informed of a 60-year-old man being struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas at approximately 10.30am on October 25.

The force said he was pronounced dead at the scene and that there were no suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

A TRAGIC LOSS FOR THE HORTICULTURAL COMMUNITY

As colleagues reflect on Mr Baines’s life, their tributes speak of a career defined by dedication, discovery and a lasting commitment to horticulture.

His work helped transform Logan Botanic Garden, broaden its plant collections and strengthen its reputation among visitors and botanical professionals alike.

The achievements he leaves behind will continue to shape the garden, while his research may contribute to scientific knowledge for years to come.

For the people who knew him, however, the loss is deeply personal.

Richard Baines was more than an award-winning gardener and respected curator. He was a colleague whose enthusiasm made a difference to those around him and whose contribution to the world of plants reached across continents.

His dєatᩚh during Storm Boelo is a heartbreaking loss — but the gardens he helped nurture, the discoveries he contributed to and the people he inspired will remain part of his enduring legacy.