The man who died after being hit by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway during Storm Boelo on Sunday has been named as Richard Baines, the curator of Logan Botanic Garden.
The 60-year-old’s death was announced yesterday by Police Scotland after gusts of 60-70mph battered northern parts of Britain.
The botanical garden in Port Logan, which is operated as part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh‘s Living Collection and widely known as Scotland’s most exotic garden, shared that their curator was the victim of the ‘tragic accident’.
Director of horticulture David Knott reportedlysaid: ‘Richard Baines, the curator of Logan Botanic Garden, sadly passed away on Sunday, October 25, during Storm Boelo, after a tragic accident while walking near his home.
‘He was primarily responsible for a number of significant developments and initiatives at Logan including the first ‘all green’ public conservatory powered by green energy in the U.K.
‘During his tenure, Logan also successfully gained a number of accolades, including being voted the ‘Best Garden in the U.K.’ by Which in 2021.
‘Logan was also the first garden in Scotland to gain gold for Green Business Tourism award and install vehicle electric charging points, culminating in Logan being awarded 5 Star status as a Visitor Attraction by VisitScotland.
‘It will, however, be for his passion and enthusiasm for plants that he will be remembered through significantly increasing and expanding the plant collection at Logan, participating and leading fieldwork in China, Canary Islands and Vietnam from which seven plant species are currently being published that are new to science.’
The man who died after being hit by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway during Storm Boelo on Sunday has been named as Richard Baines
Gusts of 60-70mph battered northern parts of Britain early on Sunday with the most extreme conditions recorded in coastal areas.
In Machrihanish, a small village on Scotland’s west coast, wind speeds as quick as 85mph were recorded.
A second death was confirmed on Sunday after a man in his 20s died while driving his car in Mill Hill, north London, when he was hit by a falling tree.
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
