A group of university students were left stunned after witnessing a couple engage in sexual activity in a car while on a wildlife tour near the Downs, a popular beauty spot close to Bristol.
The incident occurred on a road between two parked vans, where the couple remained undeterred despite the presence of the students. Anna Stevens, biodiversity engagement and learning manager for the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife team, spoke out about the shocking discovery, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight of the area.
“When I was leading a group of first-year students, we came across a small car where two people were having sex,” Stevens said. “Thankfully, they were older students, but it could have been young children. The incident highlights the risks in areas that are increasingly being treated as lawless.”
Local residents have expressed concern over a growing number of incidents at the Downs, including reports of people using the area as an informal toilet. Bristol City Council has declared some sections of the Downs a public health risk, citing evidence of human waste and unsafe activity.
Stevens called for better protection for visitors, particularly school groups, who regularly use the Downs for educational walks and wildlife tours. “People need to be aware of the risks in this area. When individuals feel the space is lawless, it encourages behavior that wouldn’t normally occur in public,” she said.
The council and local authorities have yet to announce specific measures to address the incidents, but residents and wildlife educators alike are urging a stronger response to ensure public safety in the area.
