WE said the Big Greenie was going to be a really exciting day and it was, with hundreds of youngsters flocking to Tiddenfoot Waterside Park to take part in the fun.

The Bank Holiday Monday outdoor activities day was organised by The Greensand Trust and offered young people of all ages the opportunity to get out in the fresh air and try something new – for free.

Top attractions included the Team Extreme BMX and skateboarding team who put on an oustanding demonstration of skills that held the large audience spellbound as they leaped and spun in defiance of gravity.

Between shows, the professionals held coaching sessions for those wanting to improve their performance on the track and in the skatepark.

The Tolmers Scout Camp vertical climbing wall was a big draw and had a constant queue of youngsters waiting to test their head for heights. And if that wasn't enough to cure anybody's acoraphobia they could have a go on the camp's high rope course.

Less demanding, but equally enjoyable activities included rocket-making with The Playrangers. This gave parents as much fun as their children as they partly-filled two-litre plastic pop bottles with water attached them to a footpump with a corked pipe and pumped until blast-off. Simple but effective and great fun for all the family.

Learning basic bushcraft and survival skills, such as building an emergency shelter using whatever was at hand with experts from the Branching Out Forest School attracted lots of interest and the 'try-it' workshops with the Circus Malabristas were also popular.

The LBO and Team Beds and Luton Give It A Go campaign were there handing out goodie bags and copies of the latest booklet packed with information and offers of free sports and activities sessions.

Vicky Inglis of the Greensand Trust Education Team said the success of the Big Greenie means it could become an annual event.

"I'm chuffed, it was a really great day, she said.

"The climbing wall was non-stop; that and the skateboarders were the big visible attractions but there was so much more going on.

"The drumming workshop attracted a huge crowd and the den building was extremely popular.

"Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves and we were absolutely thrilled with the way everything went."