Thousands flocked to a Buchan beauty spot yesterday for the start of a two-day event aimed at encouraging youngsters to get outdoors.
Good weather and a packed programme of activities helped lure families from across the region to the annual Wild About Aden showcase at Mintlaw.
Children and grown-ups were given the chance to try their hand at a range of crafts, games and attractions, including circus skills workshops, animal handling and a treasure hunt.
The whole of Aden Country Park was given over to the free event, which continues today from 10am.
Organisers said this year’s show could be the most popular yet.
Jane Verity, community learning worker for Aberdeenshire Council, said: “It has been amazingly busy all day. We had to use the overflow car park for the first time.”
“The sunshine has obviously helped bring people out, but also the event is now very well established. We’re getting more visitors, but we’re also getting more attractions and exhibitors.”
A new attraction this year was You Are What You Eat, Aberdeenshire’s first food science festival. In partnership with Robert Gordon University, organisers led a series of fun experiments and gave visitors the chance to sample quality ingredients from a range of local suppliers.
Among the biggest attractions yesterday was a bugs and beasties exhibition, as well as a visit from some rare breed animals from Doonies Farm in Aberdeen.