Planted in 1859 and previously the tallest tree in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, this Deodar cedar’s canopy was blown apart in the storm. (© RBGE. Photographer: Lynsey Wilson)
William Hinchliffe, Deputy Curator, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
On 24th January 2025, Storm Eowyn swept across Scotland with powerful force, leaving a significant impact on the landscapes and tree collections at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s four gardens: Edinburgh, Dawyck, Logan and Benmore.
Six months on, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the storm’s effects – both immediate and ongoing – and the resilience shown by our teams and communities in response.
Preparing for the storm
In the days leading up to Eowyn, red weather warnings made it clear that this would be a multi-hazard event. Our emergency response began before the storm hit, allowing us to:
- Manage staff and visitor safety with timely garden closures.
- Prepare internal communications.
- Plan resourcing for post-storm damage assessments.
With on-site weather monitoring equipment (installed after a major 2012 storm), we were able to track conditions remotely. It proved invaluable, with gusts reaching 80 mph in Edinburgh and even higher in the regional gardens.
Roween Suess carrying out works to remove a hanging top at Benmore Botanic Garden. (© RBGE. Photographer: Neil Hanna)
Benmore Botanic Garden Senior Horticulturalist David Gray inspects a tree damaged by the storm. (© RBGE. Photographer: Neil Hanna)
Edinburgh
By Saturday morning, when winds had died down, widespread damage was immediately evident. The initial assessment revealed:
- 15 trees lost, including a historic Deodar cedar planted in 1859
- 36 trees damaged
- Glasshouse infrastructure affected
Despite the losses, the majority of the 4,000 trees on our 72-acre site remained unharmed – a testament to both the biomechanical resilience of the species we grow and the proactive management of our treescape.
Importantly, we made a conscious decision to manage access in a way that allowed visitors to engage closely with the fallen trees. This approach generated valuable public awareness and support.
While major clearing work was completed quickly, remedial pruning and removal are ongoing. Six months of reactive work have necessarily delayed longer-term, strategic proactive arboricultural works.
Dawyck
At Dawyck Botanic Garden, over 100 trees were windblown or damaged. Though the garden is normally closed in winter, storm debris blocked core paths and delayed the seasonal reopening from 1st February to the 22nd.
We are grateful to the many teams who supported the clear-up – four arborists from Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Edinburgh-based colleagues, and Falcon Tree Management and Glendale Services. Thanks to their efforts, the garden is now fully accessible – though clearing and assessment continue.
Logan
Logan Botanic Garden also suffered substantial damage, with wind speeds peaking at 89 mph. Over 70 specimens were lost, forcing a delay to our planned opening date. The storm’s impact was a sharp reminder of the importance of preparedness and flexibility across our gardens.
Benmore
Benmore experienced the most severe damage of the four sites:
- 300+ trees were completely windblown.
- 700+ additional plants were damaged.
The scale of destruction requires a dual approach: immediate action to restore visitor access and long-term rethinking of the landscape itself.
Drone imagery helped us better understand why some areas were particularly affected. Looking forward, we are exploring:
- Ecological restoration plots where entire compartments of trees were lost.
- Improved representation of native Atlantic rainforest species, including oak and hazel.
- Reimagining our phytogeographic hill plantings, balancing resource needs with interpretive value.
Benmore offers a unique opportunity to integrate experimental restoration work into the visitor experience. These ideas will be developed further as we progress with our garden masterplans over the next 18 months.
Large trees that were completely uprooted on slopes were left with the root plates having gone past vertical. (© RBGE. Photographer: Neil Hanna)
Jack Higginson dislodges a hanging branch at Dawyck. (© RBGE. Photographer: Lynsey Wilson)
Hired-in mini loaders took much of the strain in the clear up works in the Edinburgh garden. (© RBGE. Photographer: Lynsey Wilson)
Nature-based solutions
Storm Eowyn has accelerated conversations about how contemporary ecological practices can be embedded in garden planning. We see major opportunities to:
- Advance nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation.
- Complement our traditional horticultural collections with resilient, biodiverse landscapes.
- Create more inclusive, engaging spaces for a wider range of visitors.
Teamwork and community support
The sensitive, strategic response to this storm has only been possible thanks to our skilled and adaptable workforce.
Many staff stepped well beyond their normal roles, applying newly learned techniques, and forming strong cross-site working relationships.
Leadership often emerges in times of crisis, and we’ve seen many individuals rise to the challenge.
We also leaned heavily on our wider community. The Public Storm Appeal was both financially vital and deeply encouraging, supporting repairs to damaged buildings and glasshouses, equipment hire and contractor work, and continued progress on the clear-up.
A note of thanks
We extend heartfelt thanks to the following organisations and individuals for their immediate and generous support:
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
- The Linn Botanic Garden
- Falcon Tree Management
- Glendale Services
- Balfour Beatty
- Public Storm Appeal donors
Conclusion
Storm Eowyn left a powerful mark on our gardens and community – physically and emotionally. But it also revealed the deep resilience of our collections, the strength of our community, and the potential for renewal.
As we continue to recover and plan ahead, we do so with optimism, committed to a more adaptive, inclusive and ecologically enriched future across all four of our gardens.
This article was taken from Issue 210 Autumn 2025 of the ARB Magazine, which is available to view free to members by simply logging in to the website and viewing your profile area.