DAMAGED trees and debris in the wake of Storm Isha have left grounds staff at Dawyck Botanic Garden racing to clear-up before it reopens to the public next week.

On Sunday and into Monday, 14 trees in the garden’s collection, seven miles west of Peebles, were damaged by the high winds.

The main route to the site, the B712 off the A72, was also rendered impassable by fallen timber.

A Dawyck spokesperson said: “Fourteen trees in the collection have been affected with damage ranging from whole tops being taken out of a Siberian spruce (Picea obovata) and a Sessile oak (Quercus petrea) to numerous fallen limbs and branches.

“Minor debris is also scattered around the garden.

“With winds still gusting in the high 30mphs on Monday afternoon, and more high winds forecast over coming days, when conditions improve, staff will have the major task of clearing up the damage and debris before Dawyck reopens for the 2024 season.”

The B712 at Dawyck was closed due to flooding on Wednesday after Storm Jocelyn swept across the region.

The attraction is set to reopen on Thursday (February 1).

In the previous week carpets of snowdrops appeared as temperatures dropped several degrees below freezing.

Staff also recently published some weather statistics from the previous 12 months.

The minimum air temperature recorded was -10°C on December 2. At the other end of the scale, it got up to 28.9°C on June 13.

Dawyck, which is part of the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, covers 65 acres with a network of paths and some of its oldest trees dating back to 1680.

The garden closed to the public on November 30 when Tweeddale Lord Lieutenant Sir Hew Strachan planted a tree to mark the King’s coronation.

From next Thursday the garden is open from 10am to 4pm for the month of February and from 10am to 5pm March to October.

February 1 is also when entries open for the free-to-enter national Young Horticulturalist of the Year competition open to anyone aged under 30 on July 31 this year.

A Dawyck spokesperson said: “The Young Horticulturist of the Year competition is a fantastic opportunity to test your knowledge and get the opportunity to meet with fellow horticulturists from all over the UK and Ireland.”

The competition has a prize fund of £8,000 and opportunities to win prizes in round one, regional and grand final.

The ultimate winner receives a £2,500 travel bursary to fund horticultural related travel anywhere in the world.

For further information go to www.horticulture.org.uk