Coastal Walks: Clacton to Jaywick

with Colchester Chinese Cultural Society

In January 2026 The Coastal Walks project engaged diverse communities with the outdoors and green spaces on their doorstep.  A series of walks with warm up dance, talks and health awareness activities took place along the Tendring coast, fostering community cohesion and cultural harmony, strengthening connection to the environment, and improving mental health and wellbeing.

In partnership with Colchester Chinese Cultural Society, we are organising weekly walking sessions along the coast, from Clacton to Jaywick. The sessions start 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 Epping Forest Walks project in 2025. Funded through Active Essex, the Epping Forest 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.

A final celebration event Global Village presents Chinese New Year Celebrations will take place at Harwich Arts Centre in February 2026. Participants from the walks will come together with other members of the community for cultural performances and food.

Coastal Walks is organised by Essex Cultural Diversity Project in partnership with Colchester Chinese Cultural Society, and is funded by Active Essex. It is part of ECDP’s Creative Health Programme.