A group of university students were left shocked after witnessing a couple engaged in sexual activity inside a car during a wildlife tour near Bristol. The incident occurred on a road between two parked vans at the Downs, a popular beauty spot. Local residents have expressed growing concerns about increasing issues in the area, which they fear is becoming a "lawless zone." Anna Stevens, biodiversity engagement and learning manager at the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife team, addressed the situation following the unsettling discovery. Stevens, who frequently leads educational walks for students and schoolchildren, recounted the incident to the Downs committee. She expressed relief that young children were not present during the encounter. "When I was out with a group of first-year university students, we had an incident where we were walking on the Circular Road, right next to the vehicles that are parked on the side. Right in between two of the big vans, we had a small car," she said. As the group passed by, they realised the couple was having sex inside the vehicle. "By the time we realise that it’s too late. They weren’t young; I could have been with 10-year-olds, but I wasn’t, thank goodness," Stevens added. She highlighted the need for greater awareness of the area's public nature, stating, "When you have got people living in a place where they feel that’s a place where it’s their home, it gives this idea that you can do things that you might not ordinarily do. They were in a public place, in broad daylight, right next to a pavement." The incident coincided with Bristol City Council's declaration that some parts of the Downs pose a public health risk. Two councillors reported evidence of areas being used as "organised toilet facilities, filled with human waste." An unnamed local resident commented, "It’s not about being in a home; it’s about being in a lawless area, which we’ve allowed that area to become. We know that this is a serious issue. I very strongly feel that Anna and her guests need protecting, and we’re not protecting them." The council and local authorities are now under pressure to address these concerns and restore order to the Downs, ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors.