The annual list reveals a year-on-year increase on the number of flags and pennants awarded, judged by 800 park experts.

Green Flag and Green Pennant awards increased massively in Scotland and Wales. There was a 160 per cent rise north of the border and a 36 per cent rise in Wales, according to the Government.

The numbers of awards were up by 19 per cent in the South East, 14 per cent in London and nine per cent in the North West - the three areas boasting the highest concentrations of flag-award sites.

A Government representative confirmed that the number of Green Pennants awarded this year had risen, and "1.8bn visitors can't be wrong". Communities minister Andrew Stunell said the pennants awarded to local people were "real examples of Big Society in action".

The awards are run on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government by Keep Britain Tidy, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and GreenSpace, collectively known as the Green Flag Plus Partnership. Chairman Phil Barton said: "The higher the quality of the green space, the more likely it is to be used."

- See the Green Flag Award Winners 2010/11 in our Green Flag Big Issue here.