This winter, Essex Cultural Diversity Project has been engaging with diverse community groups for a series of walks in Epping Forest, as part of a new project funded by Active Essex.

The project follows on from our recent commission with artist Talia Randall, who walked and talked with local communities to create a series of podcasts called Voices of Epping Forest.

Epping Forest has a rich history of interaction between people and nature, where biodiversity, culture and heritage interweave. Throughout the project we will work with several diverse community groups who have faced obstacles when engaging with this fantastic ancient forest, creating a more inclusive and welcoming place that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Recent walks have very successfully engaged with local Muslim groups and the Chinese community (pictured above) and we have more activity in the pipeline.

Overall, our Epping Forest Walks project aims to encourage more engagement among diverse communities with the great outdoors and the green spaces ‘on their doorstep’. Encouraging walks with friends and family will also foster community cohesion and cultural harmony. The project supports physical activity in the outdoors and in open spaces, which will improve attendee’s connection to the environment, improving mental health and wellbeing.

River Walks in Chelmsford, our previous project funded through Active Essex, demonstrated that diverse community groups who attended highly benefited through the project, which supported wellbeing, mental health and physical fitness. The funding provided has given community groups the confidence to independently continue their weekly walks in the long term along the rivers in Chelmsford.