A day of walking to mark the start of the Year of the Horse will take place on Sunday 8 March in Epping Forest with Chinese communities from Colchester, Chelmsford and Epping, as part of Essex Cultural Diversity Project’s Creative Health Programme.

The session will begin with light warm up exercises including Tai Chi and Qigong-Ba Duan, a foundational Chinese qigong often called the Eight Pieces of Brocade or Eight Silken Movements, consisting of eight gentle, flowing movements that integrate mind, body, and breath to improve overall health, balance energy flow, and strengthen the body, functioning as a form of medical qigong for wellness. It’s known for its simplicity, effectiveness, and ability to enhance flexibility, strength, and respiratory function, with each movement targeting specific meridians and internal organs, making it popular for general wellbeing and as a warm-up before exercise or walking.

The walks will be led by Community Ambassador Simone Xue from the Colchester Chinese Cultural Society, who took part in our Active Essex funded Tendring Coastal Walks project recently in January 2026. The Tendring Coastal Walks demonstrated that diverse community groups who attended highly benefited through the project, which supported wellbeing, mental health and physical fitness. The funding gave community groups the confidence to independently continue their weekly walks for the long term in the natural environment.

The Epping Forest Walks will take place after Global Village Presents Chinese New Year Celebrations at Harwich Arts Centre in February 2026, and are part of the Chinese community’s celebrations to welcome in the Year of the Horse.

Contact us at info@essexcdp.com if you are interested in taking part.