Mile End Park in London was one area picked out by the report

Signs of recovery in town squares, parks, greens and nature reserves can be seen in many areas, the National Audit Office (NAO) report says.

The number of green space managers saying the situation in their area was improving or stable jumped from 44% in 2000 to 84% last year.

More funding, including lottery money, has helped, the report adds.

'Significant improvement'

It says programmes led by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) helped stop green space decline in areas such as Sheffield and east London.

In 2000 more than 55% of urban local authorities thought the quality of their historic green spaces was declining.

By 2005 this had fallen to 16%. Last year, 83% of green space managers considered the work of ODPM and its body the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe) had successfully raised green space issues.

Good quality green space is a vital element of a civilised urban environment Sir John Bourn National Audit Office

The report highlights Sheffield Botanical Gardens and King Edward Memorial Park in East London as success stories.

Bruce McVean, the acting head of policy and research at Cabe Space, said: "We agree with the NAO report - there has been a significant improvement in recent years.

"That's largely down to a significant amount of capital investment."

But he said maintaining the improvements made meant that local authorities had to make sure they were being kept in good condition and it was "a question of making sure managers are aware of that.".

Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, said: "Good quality green space is a vital element of a civilised urban environment.

'Renaissance'

"It is welcome, therefore, that initiatives by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are in many parts of the country contributing to a reverse of the decline in the quality of urban green space.

"This improving trend must be sustained and extended to those urban communities who still have to put up with poor quality green space."

Liveability Minister Baroness Andrews said the NAO had recognised the "renaissance in our urban parks and green spaces".

"This debate is no longer about the decline of urban green spaces but about how to sustain and accelerate the renaissance," she added.