Off road controversy

Off road pressure - time to close the flood gates?

Trail bikes and 4x4s are increasingly popular but a new law could severely curtail the activities of off roaders in parts of the South West.

Off roading is controversial because some people believe it is an inappropriate activity for the countryside.

They say its noisy and can damage fragile landscapes.

In the Quantocks - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Somerset - there is huge pressure on the landscape from users of all sorts.

The area is hugely popular with walkers, mountain bikers, off roaders, trail bikers, quad bikes and horse riders.

The Quantocks are criss-crossed by a network of trails called RUPPS - Roads Used as Public Paths.

Somerset is unusual in still having tracks classified in this way.

Many other local authorities changed the classification of these routes long ago into for example, bridleways or footpaths.

Under new legislation the government is going to downgrade every RUPP to a "restricted byway" - in other words traffic will be barred.

Trail bikers - outdoor adventure or damaging the countryside?

The move has infuriated local trail bikers and hunt followers who also use the RUPPs and they plan to appeal.

But the Quantocks Rangers say the landscape - which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest - is being badly damaged and eroded by the increasing amount of traffic using the hills.

Meanwhile in Cornwall, existing legislation is failing to curb the activities of bikers using an old mining site to practice stunts.

Wheal Maid, near Redruth, is owned by the Parish Council which says its impossible to stop bikers trespassing - because they're too fast to catch!

Local residents say the noise and dust created by the bikers make their lives a misery.

The bikers say they were using the site long before the complaining residents moved into the area.

Links relating to this story:

• Somerset Council
• English Heritage
• BBC DNA
• BBC Top Gear

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Badgers

Badger in action captured on film

Dr David Dixon is a marine biologist who is passionate about Badgers.

He's been studying this remarkable animal in Plymouth for five years and during this time he's filmed 1,000s of hours worth of their behaviour.

This unique footage is possibly the largest badger library of its kind.

David has studied every hour of their behaviour and found out that their activities are related to the lunar cycle.

His study is the first to find a link between the moon and Badger behaviour, and these are his main findings:

• At times of a new moon (i.e. when the moon is darkest) Badgers scent mark much more often than at other times. They scent mark least at times of full moon.
  
  At times of a new moon Badgers mate more often and for longer than they would at other times. At full moon, Badgers barely mate at all and if they do the mating sessions are very brief as the female Badgers are less receptive to the male's advances.
  
  At times of a new moon, Badgers are more aggressive towards each other as compared to other times. When the moon is full, Badgers live much more harmoniously.

Links relating to this story:

• Badger Trust
• Mammal Society
• BBC Hands on Nature
• Wildlife Trusts
  

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites

Snoring

Snoring cure? Song as a treatment for snorers

Behind the bedroom curtains of this average South West street, we are almost certain to find dozens of people suffering from a common condition - snoring.

It’s treated as a bit of a joke – unless you happen to be on the receiving end.

It can cause sufficient distress to test even the happiest of marriages.

Lee Iles from Exeter has the advanced snoring condition known as sleep apnoea – where breathing actually stops for a while.

It can be dangerous, so Lee is having to wear a mask that does his breathing for him while he’s asleep.

"I’ve tried everything. The only way we can sleep together is by me wearing this mask – does wonders for your love life," he says.

But help could be at hand – from singing teacher Alise Ojay, who has created a set of exercises which Lee will be doing for the next few months.

Alise has recorded 35 separate exercises and released them as a triple CD.

It takes three months to complete the course and hopefully, stop snoring.

Doctors in Exeter are conducting a long term trial of Alise’s exercises with snoring patients.

There’s good science behind the method. Because snoring is caused by these muscles going slack, and singing can tighten them up.

And two months into the programme we get together to swap notes.

Even though Lee feels he’s making progress, he has carried on wearing that mask for the sake of nocturnal harmony.

It’ll be two years before the full results of the clinical trial are known but Lee’s progress is certainly encouraging.

Links relating to this story:

• BBC: Health - Snoring
  Singing for Snorers
  British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association
  Web Doctor - Snoring
  Sleep Research Centre

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites