We’re turning over a Green Leaf here in the New Forest! Step by step we’re aiming to make the New Forest the UK’s greenest destination.

With such unique wildlife and nature in the New Forest, it is incredibly important to us that we work to make our National Park a super green location to help protect our special landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage.

One step we’ve recently taken to get to this goal is by launching our Green Leaf Tourism Business Scheme on Earth Day, 22 April 2022. Green Leaf helps local tourism businesses in the New Forest continue to improve their performance in delivering a more responsible net zero daily operation and visitor experience. From responsible travel and using local food & produce to energy efficiency, recycling and nature conservation, there are lots of interesting and important aspects that businesses are working on to be even more sustainable.

Lots of accommodation, attraction and activity businesses in the New Forest have recently received a Green Leaf Award, either at a Gold, Silver or Bronze level – and even more are completing our Award checklist so that they earn a Green Leaf Award too.

Chewton Glen Hotel have received a Gold Green Leaf Award! This wonderful hotel has taken many brilliant steps to have earn such a high award level, including installed solar panels, LED lighting, an electric car to collect guests from the local train station and purchasing local food where possible.

Red Shoot Camping Park are going that extra mile by being part of a Refill Scheme, plus they have many landscape and habitat management plans in operation, such as their 8 bird boxes, 4 bat boxes and 4 insect houses!

One of the attractions that has received a Green Leaf Award is the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst. They also have solar panels fitted, plus they have motion sense lighting, compostable takeaway cups in the café and a multitude of information to hand on local responsible travel and visiting.

Paultons Park, Home of Peppa Pig World, are another local business that have a lot of elements in place to help reduce the negative affects on the environment on a daily basis. Some of what they do include compaction machines, water filling stations around the park, low-capacity cisterns in bathrooms and so much more.

The Green Leaf Scheme has also been designed to be a step for local businesses to move on to the international B Corp certification process, in which two of our New Forest businesses already have, Green Hill Farm Holiday Village and New Forest Escapes (including Ploughmans Cottage).

You can view all businesses that have received an Award on our website and see the actions each business is taking to have obtained their Green Leaf Award.

Everyone’s awareness and own responsibilities to look after the world’s natural resources has increased a lot over the past few years, and many are looking at how they can incorporate ‘being green’ into their travels around the UK and the rest of the world. So, make your trip to the New Forest even greener by visiting businesses who are already turning over a Green Leaf!

Travel even more responsibly to and around the New Forest is by going car-free! Walking and cycling are both fantastic ways to travel around the New Forest, and you’ll see many spectacular sights by travelling this way too.

Or use public transport to get to the New Forest and when you’re here, too, to reduce the number of cars that are being driven around our country roads. We have many great public transport connections in the New Forest, including trains, buses, coaches and boats. The open top New Forest Tour operates during the summer months and is a fantastic way to see the forest and coast and stop off at your favourite locations.

Another way to be greener when in the New Forest is to buy local food and drink. Buying local food and drink means that you are helping to cut carbon emissions and air pollutions, due to reducing food miles! Plus, you’ll being supporting local businesses that offer amazing produce.

Let’s all be that little bit more responsible and make the world a greener place!