The temperature has dropped and that only means one thing for the grounds and maintenance teams at Shepway District Council - a complete winter re-plant.

Beauty spots such as The Leas, Kingsnorth Gardens and Radnor Park are just a handful of places out of 55 in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh that have their flowerbeds changed seasonally.

The five week task, which takes place twice a year, costs more than £35,000 of tax-payer’s money to change up the displays come rain or shine.

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Annually, there are some 54,510 bulbs planted in addition to 75,600 spring bedding plants.

And last week marked the beginning of the second re-plant this year which saw 62,700 summer bedding plants dug up and replaced with a fresh batch.

The colours and designs are thought up a year in advance by the horticultural manager at Shepway District Council, Jana Getliffe.

The intrepid green-fingered resident has held her position at the council for 16 years and helps to designate between 50 full-time and 20 seasonal workers all across Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh.

As temperatures have plummeted some 10 degrees, the flowers in Kingsnorth Gardens had already began to wilt.

The summer plants in the garden, which was originally a clay pitt, varied from rudbecki yellow flowers and purple verdenas.

None of these will survive through the winter if they were kept.

Ms Getliffe said: “People just don’t know what’s coming and I have done it for so long I like to experiment with different colour schemes.”

Apart from the major re-planting duties, the workers at Shepway are scattered across different sites on a day-to-day basis, mowing lawns and trimming hedges.

They also help to look after the area's cemeteries.

Cllr Malcolm Dearden, cabinet member with responsibilities for grounds maintenance, said: “We take pride in our parks, flowerbeds and opens spaces and work hard to keep them looking beautiful.

“Looking after them is a year-round job and it’s good to know that the results are appreciated by residents and visitors who often compliment us on what we do.

“From the charity arrangement on The Leas to our award-winning Coastal Park, from the smallest flowerbed to the Royal Military Canal, we aim to create places and spaces for people to enjoy.”