CAMPAIGNERS turned out to celebrate the creation of a town green at Grove Wood in Stapleton.
The occasion came after four years of efforts to ensure the riverside woodland is protected and remains open to the public.
It began after self-styled "Lord" Houshang Jafari, the owner of the 12-acre wildlife haven on the Blackberry Hill side of the River Frome next to Oldbury Court, started cutting down trees and bushes and attempted to restrict access to the site.
Thousands of people supported the Snuff Mills Action Group's campaign to save the ancient woodland.
Sixty of them joined the fun yesterday as the group marked the decision by city councillors to register the beauty spot as a town green.
Steve Micklewright, who led the campaign, said the group had organised a "light-hearted April Fools' Day celebration", featuring himself as "Lord Stapleton" and campaigner Sue Drake as "Lady Fishponds", with many other group members dressed as animals. Those names were chosen because the decision meant that residents of those neighbourhoods could enjoy the woods for ever.
Mr Micklewright said: "We proved at a public inquiry that there is significant use of the woods by people from Stapleton and Fishponds so the town green is being registered for them. However, no one from any other part of the city or elsewhere is ever likely to be stopped from enjoying Grove Wood from now on."
"We hope that many local people will be able to enjoy the woods without fear of the landowners trying to stop them from doing so."
Grove Wood is home to kingfishers, otters, badgers, buzzards and owls as well as spring flowers.
It is in a conservation area and has been designated a nature reserve by Bristol City Council. Tree preservation orders are in force.
A public inquiry last year was told how the area was enjoyed by nature lovers from across the city .
Independent inspector Leslie Blohm QC heard evidence from residents that the land had been in use for recreation for at least 20 years, the requirement for sites to be registered as town greens. He recommended town green status, which will protect the site from development.
This suggestion was agreed by the city council's public rights of way committee last month.
"Lord" Jafari and his wife Katrina attended the meeting and made a final plea to councillors to reject the application. They claimed the inquiry had been biased and questioned the validity of residents' evidence.
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