There's no rest for the Island's Britain in Bloom medal winners.

Work has already started in preparation for next year's competition when Douglas will be going for gold.

Last month the capital secured a silver achievement award in the large towns and small cities section of the contest, for the third time.

It also picked up the Royal Horticultural Society’s tourism accolade for promoting links with its history and cultural diversity.

The Corporation's parks superintendent Kevin Bott (pictured) says such achievements require a great deal of effort: "We put about 800 hanging baskets out, for starters. They've all come back in because they've reached the end of their season, but we are taking cuttings from them to go back into the system to try again next year.

"We've got nine acres of land which is planted out with various things, from which we will get our plants for spring bedding, so it's an all year-round effort which never stops."