The team at the Logan Botanic Garden, located near Stranraer in Dumfries & Galloway, is in the laborious process of clearing up the destruction left behind by Storm Eowyn, to be ready for the reopening of the Logan Botanic Garden on March 1. The red wind weather warning storm brought winds of up to 89 mph ripping through the garden. The Logan team is making steady progress with the clean-up of the Garden. Trees across the Garden have been uprooted, severely damaged, those of which have had to be removed, and over power lines.
Logan Botanic Garden has lost over 70 specimens. Many of those hold special meaning to the team and are a part of the history at Logan. The team is heartbroken by the losses to the living collection at the Garden. These include two large Eucalyptus specimens, that each stood at approximately 45 feet tall. The Eucalyptus specimens collapsed on top of two other others (Olearia & Pseudopanax). In a domino effect, leaving these specimens severely damaged.
Richard Baines, the Curator at Logan, said:
“The Eucalypts were particularly fine specimens having been collected in Australia in 1996 by Logan’s ex-curator Barry Unwin. Known for its glaucous blue, highly aromatic foliage these two specimens will be a big loss as they were a real feature in the shrub bed.”
The Garden has lost many beautiful specimens that were just coming into flower such as the Clethra arborea commonly known as the Lily-of-the-valley tree. This was snapped at the base by the sheer ferocity of the wind experienced at the Garden. The shrub is native to Madeira, standing at almost two meters tall, which is rarely seen in Scottish gardens.
The four Botanic Gardens have suffered tremendous loss. Logan managed to retain the vast majority of their living collection. This is accredited to the team’s proactive nature-based solutions. Like the replacement of hedges around the Garden every two years. The hedges have acted as a windbreaker protecting the specimens throughout the Garden. A champion tree within badly hit areas at Logan has been able to remain standing. The prickly myrtle (Rhaphithamnus spinosus), the largest in the UK, will only need remedial work to the crown. Due to the diligent work conducted at the Logan Botanic Garden, to ensuring and improving the health of specimens.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Storm Damage Appeal that began on the January 27 has made over £85,000 so far. The teams across the four Gardens are grateful for the response from the public. This funding will help the Gardens to restore their living collections and infrastructure. To become more resilient to the chances that climate change bring.
