A new project unveiled by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) aims to encourage communities across England to create more urban green spaces.

Environment minister Richard Benyon announced that the Green Infrastructure Partnership had been designed to enable communities to make greater use of existing 'grey' areas.

Part of the first White Paper on the Natural Environment in 20 years, the partnership will be run for an initial two years with the aim of improving England's green "infrastructure".

Benyon said: "Green spaces are not only important for our health and well-being; they also create places where people want to invest, generating new jobs and businesses.

"We're used to thinking about drab, grey infrastructure - the roads, drains, power lines and other things on which we all depend. It is now time to place the same level of emphasise on our green infrastructure."

Details: www.defra.gov.uk