ICE cream sales have been banned at a Hampshire beauty spot to help protect it from soaring visitor numbers and anti-social behaviour.
Forestry England and the New Forest Verderers have removed Hatchet Pond from a list of locations where ice cream vans are allowed to operate.
It follows increasing concern about the damage being done by families flocking to the 16-acre lake during the summer.
The public toilets have already been closed and Forestry England (FE) has applied for planning permission to move the car park.
The issue of whether ice cream vans should be allowed to continue visiting the site was raised at a meeting of the Verderers, often dubbed the guardians of the Forest.
A spokesperson said: "The Verderers have previously given consent for ice cream and soft drink sales at agreed locations.
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"Hatchet Pond has been removed from the list as it is no longer seen as appropriate to have a concessionaire at this location due to the ecological sensitivity of the site.
"Cadnam Cricket Club car park has also been removed from the list. Some additional, more robust locations have been added."
The spokesperson said FE wanted ice cream sellers to act as custodians for the sites by displaying key messages about litter, livestock and other issues as well as reporting problems.
Clive Chatters, of Friends of the New Forest, referred to FE's management plan for Hatchet Pond.
He said: "The Friends are in agreement with the broad thrust of this plan as it recognises the damage being done to the wildlife and amenities of the pond through current levels of recreation use.
"In simple terms, the place is being loved to death."
As reported in the Daily Echo, the application to move the car park away from the water's edge and nearer the road was submitted last September.
The application says: "Hatchet Pond is a popular year-round destination for visitors to the New Forest, particularly in the summer.
"The new car park will be more visible from the road, which it is hoped will reduce the frequency of over-nighting and anti-social behaviour."
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