The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has named the four parks which will receive a total of £4.4m in funding from the Parks for People programme.

Herschel Park in Slough, Berkshire, has been awarded a £1.69m grant, while Pannett Park in Whitby, Yorkshire received £1.4m. Chances Park in Carlisle, Cumbria, will receive £869,000 grant and the Dixon Park in Larne, Country Antrim, Northern Ireland has been given £514,000.

The grants will be used to upgrade park facilities. At Herchel Park, a Victorian coach house will be transformed into a multi-use visitor centre. Improvements at Pannett Park and Dixon Park include new play areas while at Chances Park the grant will be invested in the creation of new performance area.

Iain Wright, communities minister, said the funding would ensure that more people would be able to enjoy the benefits of green space.

"Parks are the green lungs of our town and cities, not only making them more pleasant places to live, but also providing green spaces where young and old can come together to relax," he said.

Jenny Abramsky, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, added: “Parks are such a vital part of the everyday lives of communities up and down the country, providing habitats for wildlife and places for people to escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. We’ve been investing money in public parks for many years and the benefits it has brought are truly extraordinary.”