This means beauty spots such as Cuckoo's Hollow, in Werrington, and Bretton Park could soon be up there with the award-winning Central Park and Itter Park on the list of top green spaces in the country.

The council, buoyed by the recent Green Flag success of Itter Park, in Walton, in the last two years, has decided to invite community groups to nominate their local green spaces, which must provide a welcoming and well-managed area to be in with a chance.

The Green Flag award is open to any freely accessible park or green space, which include town parks, formal gardens, open spaces, woodlands, allotments and even cemeteries.

One scheme that has already got the ball rolling is development of the grounds at the crematorium in Bretton, and an application for Green Flag status is expected to be made during the early part of 2009.

Director of city services Mike Heath said: "There are a number of key issues to consider, and that of community groups and backing is one. Bretton Park, Bishop's Road Gardens and Cuckoo's Hollow have good local support and community backing, which is important.

"But there are also areas such as the Hamptons with their lakes and places along the river which could be considered. But it can't be just down to the council, there has to be the community support to be able to sustain the projects."

Werrington North councillor Judy Fox welcomed the news to increase the number of recognised of green spaces as "brilliant".

She said: "Cuckoo's Hollow had as lot of people involved already, we have just planted hundreds of bulbs and have regular litter picks and are looking to do a lot more work there, so I would love it to be put forward."

It is hoped the initiative will link into the sustainable community strategy, with the aim of further boosting the city's credentials to be considered the UK's environment capital.

Applications must be made by the organisation which manages the park or green space, but community groups individuals having an interest in this area can show their support.

Officers will then carry out a review of potential green flag sites and produce a further report setting out a list of these sites, together with an indication of likely requirements to enable an application to be successful.

However, the council warns it is likely to take at least 12 months to complete this initial task, as priority is being given to completion of the works relating to play areas for which grants have been awarded under the Big Lottery Fund and the Fair Share scheme.