Close contact with nature is essential to everyone's quality of life, not only in the countryside but also in our towns and cities

Martin Doughty English Nature

"Close contact with nature is essential to everyone's quality of life, not only in the countryside but also in our towns and cities."

One of the first recipients of the award money will be Abney Park cemetery in Hackney, London, which is working to create a green community space in the inner city.

Spokesman for English Nature, Stuart Burgess, said the organisation's 300 metre target would be a challenge in city areas, but was not impossible.

"It's an ambitious aim, but you would be surprised at how many sites there are with potential.

"A lot of disused quarries and rubbish tips have great wildlife value, and it's a question of recognising that and getting people and money on board to help develop them."

The scheme intends to encourage local authorities to meet benchmarks in the provision of quality open spaces.

The money, which comes mostly from the National Lottery and the New Opportunities Fund, will be used to buy land to create new nature reserves or extend some of the 700 existing ones.

Community liaison officers will be employed to promote community involvement in local nature reserves.

There will also be more practical projects on nature reserves, such as developing initiatives with schools, improving access for all, and getting volunteers involved with building ponds or planting woodlands.