Richard Baines sadly passed away on Sunday 25 October during Storm Boelo, after a tragic accident whilst walking near his home.
Richard has been an amazing Curator at Logan Botanic Garden, a champion for plants, an inspirational horticulturalist, and a friend to many.
After leaving school he spent time as a horticultural student at Barony College and at Threave School of Horticulture before doing an internship at Inverewe Gardens. This was followed by participation in an International Exchange programme at Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania, USA before starting the Diploma course at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This was followed by working in various capacities with Renfrew District Council and Glasgow City Council before becoming Head of Horticulture at Barony College and subsequently Section Head of Forestry, Horticulture and Environment at Barony College, Dumfries. In 2007 he was appointed as Curator at Logan Botanic Garden.
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. as part of a £500,000 project including being awarded £200,000 in grant funding.
During his tenure, Logan successfully gained a number of accolades including being voted the ‘Best Garden in the U.K.’ by Which in 2021, the ‘Best Family Venue’ by the Scottish Hospitality Awards (2025) and personally being recognised as ‘Tourism Champion 2017’ by Dumfries & Galloway Life’. 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.
He was a regular contributor to the horticultural press, an experienced broadcaster on both TV and radio and author. In his spare time he led specialist horticultural tours and was a Trustee for Galloway House Gardens, Garlieston.
It will however be for his 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 & Vietnam from which seven plant species are currently being published that are new to science.
With his background in horticultural education Richard was passionate in providing training opportunities for the next generation of horticulturists and through his work in schools to provide horticultural apprentice opportunities at Logan.
Out with work Richard was an outdoor pursuit’s enthusiast whose interests included fishing, travelling, pickleball, tennis, and walking. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Richard’s contribution as an enthusiastic plantsman and Curator at Logan and to RBGE’s wider work and culture, has been immeasurable, and he will be deeply missed by many.
