Pride of Guernsey: 'An example to us all'

That is the view of Andrew Pouteaux, who has nominated Mrs Pickard for the OCS-sponsored Parish Champion of the Year Award.

He said heading up a parish floral group was quite an undertaking.

'Now to take on St Martin's in the year when it is in the Britain in Bloom national finals and you must be mad,' he said.

'Suzie has no background in this, but is proud of her parish and she's a determined lady.

'Starting with little more than a conviction that St Martin's deserves to do well, she has thrown herself at it and built a team that are now on their way.'

He said the Art of Living community volunteers were proud to work with Mrs Pickard and bring teams of people, such as from Butterfield, to support her.

'She is an example to all of us as to what we can do if we put our minds to it and we wish her well,' said Mr Pouteaux.

Recent projects taken on by St Martin's in Bloom include tackling an area of Japanese knotweed near Adventure Cycles in Grande Rue, repainting hanging basket stands around the parish centre and collecting litter.