Greenwich Park and The Regent's Park are celebrating after being named today in the list of best parks in England and Wales with the announcement of 322 Green Flag Award winners.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by the Civic Trust, is the national standard for parks and green spaces. Winners vary from Victorian parks and town centre gardens to nature reserves, country parks and cemeteries. Sites must be judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained with the strong involvement of the local community.

The record number of winners represents a 26% increase on the number of awards given last year, yet more evidence that the quality of our parks is continuing to climb.

Lord's Minister for Housing and Planning, Kay Andrews, said:

"I'm delighted that there are more Green Flag Award winners this year than ever before. It is yet more evidence that our parks are on the up and that more people are enjoying green space of the highest standard.

"We all know that good quality parks are jewels in the crown of any community. These open-air leisure centres are places where people can relax, exercise and play. And the best thing of all is that they are free for everyone to use.

"The Green Flag Award scheme rewards our country's best parks but everyone should be able to enjoy good quality green space and this is central to the Government's commitment to create sustainable communities for all. The Awards show that the quality of recreational space matters and I hope this year's winners will inspire others to make their park a place that the whole community can be proud of."

The Green Flag Award scheme's programme manager, Paul Todd, said:

"As a charity concerned with urban renaissance, the Civic Trust is delighted to once again announce such a rapid growth in winners.

"It is fantastic to see the number of winning sites increase by 69 this year - so many more parks and green spaces with the hallmark of the Green Flag Award for people to enjoy. Plus, the recently launched Green Flag Award events guide - the first of its kind - means people can find up-to-the-minute information at the click of a button at www.greenflagaward.org.uk

Other winners include Samphire Hoe, an amazing beauty spot created from the spoil dug for the Eurotunnel, Ham Hill Country Park, a site containing remains of the largest Iron Age hillfort in Europe and Heeley City Farm, a thriving community run sustainable enterprise featuring its own goats.

In addition, 42 community run sites were awarded a Green Pennant Award and 14 sites achieved Green Heritage Site Accreditation.

All winners will be awarded their Green Flags at three regional ceremonies taking place simultaneously at London's Guildhall, Manchester's Town Hall and Swansea's Brangwyn Hall on July 28.

The Green Flag Award is a key component of the Government's commitment to create cleaner, safer, green communities. A Summit in Sheffield on Friday 22 July will bring together central and local government to consider how to further improve the standards of parks and public spaces across the country.

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1. Further information can be found at www.greenflagaward.org.uk.

2. The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by the Civic Trust on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Green Flag Advisory Board. Members of the Board include ODPM, CABE Space, Heritage Lottery Fund, Green Flag Award judges, Award and Pennant winners, founders and sponsors of the Scheme.

3. Any green space in England and Wales that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. Green Pennant recognises high quality green spaces that are managed by voluntary and community groups.

4. Sites are judged in May and June each year and the winners are announced in July. Winners fly their Green Flag until July the following year

5. There are eight criteria which Green Flag Award judges assess - a welcoming place; healthy, safe and secure; well maintained and clean; sustainability; conservation and heritage; community involvement; marketing; and management.

6. Green Heritage Site accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site's historic features and the standard of conservation. A site must first pass the judging criteria for the Green Flag Award before being considered (though sites can apply for both in the same year).

7. There is a high, and increasing, satisfaction with green spaces, which now has the highest satisfaction rating within Best Value Performance Indicator 119e (the measure for resident satisfaction with local parks and green spaces). Results on satisfaction with parks and green space have increased 8% over the last three years (from 63% to 71%).

8. The recently launched Reputation project from the Local Government Association, recognises that the delivery of parks and public spaces effects the public reputation of the local authority. It has made a commitment for all local authorities in England to gain at least one Green Flag Award in their area. More details at www.lga.gov.uk

9. CABE Space, the national champion for parks and public spaces, offers advice, support and guidance to local authorities to improve green spaces. www.cabespace.org.uk

10. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister leads the Government's drive to create cleaner, safer, greener communities. It is the primary funding partner of the Green Flag Award Scheme. Baroness Kay Andrew's is Parliamentary under Secretary at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. For more information go to www.cleanersafergreener.gov.uk or www.odpm.gov.uk. Alternatively contact Matthew Wells at ODPM, 020 7944 4613.

11. The Civic Trust is an independent, national charity, founded in 1957. It works with people to promote thriving towns and villages, developing partnerships between communities, government and business to deliver regeneration and local improvement. It is the umbrella body for 850 civic societies across the country, representing over 250,000 individuals committed to improving and caring for places where people live and work. www.civictrust.org.uk