Herm aims for fourth gold medal in Britain in Bloom

Herm's head gardener is hoping to make it four out of four as the island is again a finalist in Britain in Bloom.

The Channel Island has won a gold medal at all three of its previous entries to the annual horticultural awards.

This year the island has been entered in the Champion of Champions category alongside four UK towns.

Brett Moore, head gardener, said: "We're going up against four fantastic places... [but] to be the best you've got to beat the best."

The others nominees are Halstead, Lytham, North Berwick and Stanghow.

'Unfinished business'

As well as winning gold medals Herm was named top of its category for coastal areas with an electoral roll up to 12,000, in 2002 and 2008.

Last year it lost out in the category to Lytham and North Berwick.

Mr Moore said it meant there was "a bit of unfinished business" involved in this year's competition and that being put forward was "an absolute honour and we will try our hardest".

He said of the recognition the islands had gained in the competition: "We're making the Bailiwick look fantastic, we're advertising the Bailiwick around Great Britain, Europe are getting to know about us as well and it's brilliant.

Guernsey's parish of St Pierre du Bois also features in this year's finalists, in the Large Village category.

It will be hoping to follow up on its 2010 success when it won that category and a gold medal.

The 2013 awards are due to be presented at a ceremony in Cleethorpes in October.