At least 50 trees have been lost at Dawyck Botanic Garden in the Scottish Borders, following destruction wrought by Storm Eowyn – with the full extent of the damage still being assessed. The team now faces a massive task of clearing up damage and debris, forcing a postponement of the Garden’s reopening for the spring season, originally scheduled for Saturday, February 1.
As the team prepared to open their doors to visitors for the new season, the storm swept through the much-loved arboretum, devastating specimens in the Garden’s Living Collection including mature trees like the beautiful incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), Lawson’s cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) and Marie’s fir (Abies mariesii). Other trees have suffered major crown or limb damage with masses of debris scattered across the 65-acre site.
Graham Stewart, Curator of Dawyck Botanic Garden said: “The damage caused by Storm Eowyn is devastating to the team, and I’m sure our visitors will be equally sorry to see the loss of so many of their favourite trees. The full clear up is likely to take several months, but I can assure visitors that our visitor centre – including our new café team and exhibition ‘Gathering Light’ by artist and photographer Sam Laughlin - will open as expected on Saturday 1 February.
“Once our dedicated team has made the site safe again for visitors, we will announce the date of the full reopening of the Garden.”
The thanks of everyone at all four Gardens of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, at Edinburgh, Benmore, Logan and Dawyck, go out to everyone who has supported the recovery.
ENDS
For further information and images, contact Suzie Huggins at shuggins@rbge.org.uk, 07385 491460, or Shauna Hay shay@rbge.org.uk, 07824 529028.
Editor’s notes
Dawyck Botanic Garden, Stobo, near Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, is part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. It was the first garden in the country to be awarded 5-star status by VisitScotland and is the first carbon-neutral botanic garden in the UK. It is open to the public daily from February 1 to November 30.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a leading international research organisation delivering knowledge, education and plant conservation action around the world. In Scotland its four Gardens at Edinburgh, Benmore, Logan and Dawyck attract around a million visitors each year. It operates as a Non Departmental Public Body established under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, principally funded by the Scottish Government. It is also a registered charity, managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by Ministers. Its mission is “To explore, conserve and explain the world of plants”.