The Sun, on Climate, 26 October 2026

3.0out of 10Minor

, 60, killed in Storm Boelo by falling tree is pictured as tributes pour in

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Comment now Next AN award-winning gardener killed in Storm Boelo has been pictured as tributes are pouring in to the “passionate” curator. Richard Baines, 60, was walking near his home in Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, during the height of the storm when he was fatally struck on Sunday morning. 6 Richard Baines was tragically killed after being hit by a falling tree during storm Boelo Credit: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 6 He was a long-serving curator of Logan Botanic Garden Credit: Facebook Advertisement Emergency services raced to the scene but the 60-year-old long-serving curator of Logan Botanic Garden was pronounced dead by paramedics.

News of his death has shocked colleagues at Logan Botanic Garden, near Stranraer where Mr Baines worked. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. David Knott, Director of Horticulture, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh told how Mr Baines will be “deeply” missed.

He said: “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. 6 Richard has been named as the person who died after being hit by a tree in Castle Douglas 6 Workers start the clear-up near where the accident happened. “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.

Advertisement “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.

Most read in The Sun 'MISS THEM SO MUCH' Couple killed in horror crash between camper van and lorry are pictured CLASS CLOWN New 30ft 'KEEP CLEAR' lines painted outside school… 10 years after it shut ‘OUR WORLD IS BROKEN’ Dad and teen sons, 13 & 15, killed as plane crashes near mountains PUB MURDER 'Gunman who wore curly orange wig disguise is unmasked' after pub shooting 6 A land rover tries to get through a road flooded in Essex Credit: Stephen Huntley 6 The Ayrshire town of Largs has been left submerged by water in Scotland Credit: Facebook/Geraldo's, Largs “Richard’s contribution as an enthusiastic plantsman and Curator at Logan and to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s wider work and culture, has been immeasurable, and he will be deeply missed by many.”

Advertisement King Charles III is the official patron of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – which operates Logan Botanic Garden. Mr Baines lost his life as the deadly storm wreaked havoc across the UK. A man in his 20s in London was killed when a tree struck his moving car. Some 160,000 people were without power and one town in Scotland – Largs – was completely submerged by water at high tide. Trees blocked roads and smashed into cars and homes from the gusts of up to 84mph.

Advertisement Train companies warned of “significant” disruption and urged Brits to avoid travelling if possible. A report on Baines’ death will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a 60-year-old man having been struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas around 10.30am on Sunday, 25 October, 2026. RECOMMENDED STORIES “The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.” Advertisement Comment now

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What we found (1)

The Sun reports the death of Richard Baines, curator of Logan Botanic Garden, who was struck by a falling tree during Storm Boelo, and carries the tributes and police details accurately. Its headline calls him a "Royal gardener", when the body's only royal link is that the King is patron of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. This does not change the facts of his death.

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Minor

    “Royal gardener”

    Why this matters
    The headline calls Mr Baines a "Royal gardener".
    The impression it gives
    A reader comes away thinking he worked for the royal family or tended a royal household's gardens.
    The context
    The body says he was curator of Logan Botanic Garden, run by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The only royal link it gives is that the King is the institution's patron.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

What it gets right

  • “Richard Baines, 60, was walking near his home in Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, during the height of the storm when he was fatally struck on Sunday morning.”

    The Sun names the man who died, his age, where it happened and when, so the reader knows who was lost.

  • “We were made aware of a 60-year-old man having been struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas”

    The article gives the police account of the death in the force's own words and attributes it plainly.

  • “A man in his 20s in London was killed when a tree struck his moving car.”

    It says plainly that a second man was killed and how, rather than writing the death out.

How other outlets reported it

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