The national park has been crowned the greenest car-free destination in the UK. The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), which assesses sustainable tourism businesses, has singled out the Forest as its champion for 2007.

Three gold and five silver awards for accommodation clinched the title for the area.

Careys Manor Hotel and Cottage Lodge Hotel in Brockenhurst and Sandy Balls Holiday Centre in Fordingbridge, all won Gold awards.

Chewton Glen in New Milton, the Montagu Arms in Beaulieu, Rufus House Hotel in Lyndhurst and Lymington's Shorefield Country Park and the bed and breakfast in Honeysuckle Gardens all took Silver.

The Forest was also congratulated for offering visitors incentives to go car free, such as the open top tour bus and Brock-enhurst railway station.