THIS weekend marks the return of an annual international walking event commemorating the life and ideas of Jane Jacobs.

Jane was an author and activist best known for her influential book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, which argued urban renewal did not respect the needs of inhabitants

Her life is remembered across the world each year with Jane’s Walk, a series of walking tours through towns and cities.

Colchester was one of the first in this country to embrace the idea back in 2011 and once again the town is going all out with a number of walks in and around the town.

Now in its seventh year, it's the biggest festival yet in Colchester with 16 walks over three days, plus a special launch event tonight, May 5, from 7.30pm to 11pm at Piatto Cafe in Queen Street with live music from Sally Army.

Here are the Gazette's best of the walking fest.

For more information on the rest go to www.janeswalk.org/united-kingdom/colchester

FRIDAY

All Trees Great and Small - meet 5pm, The Silberrad Centre, Essex University. Lasts two hours.

An introduction to 30 of Wivenhoe Park’s finest trees with arboreal expert Christopher Howard.

SATURDAY

7am with Anthony Roberts - meet 7am, 10 Inverness Close, Colchester. Lasts one and half hours.

An early morning walk, celebrating the 7am photographs the Colchester Arts Centre director publishes on Facebook.

The Murals of Henry Collins and Joyce Pallot - meet 10am, outside Sainsburys in Priory Walk. Lasts one hour.

Join Katherine Wood and the team involved in developing the restoration and interpretation of Colchester’s public art murals by husband and wife team, artists Henry Collins and Joyce Pallot.

Riots, Rebellions and Protests (Part 1): From Boudica to Suffragettes - meet 11.30 am, The War Memorial, High Street. Lasts two hours.

A walk, and street theatre, with Dorian Kelly around some of the locations that have changed Colchester and a chance to meet some of the amazing people throughout its turbulent history who have stood up and said 'enough, no more'.

SUNDAY

Landescape: The Defence of the Ancient Tribal Kingdom - meet 11 am, Leather Bottle pub, Straight Road. Lasts three hours.

Mitch Mclean introduces the ancient boundary and landmarks of the stronghold of Camulodunum.

Sunday Trading: Capturing Colchester’s streets - meet 11.30 am, Space Studios, 37 Queen Sreet. Lasts three hours, includes discussion afterwards.

Photographer Jonathan Doyle looks at how just half a generation ago, only a few shops traded on Sundays. Bring your camera or use your phone, and capture the essence of Sunday Trading as you explore the shopping streets of Colchester.

A botanical walk around the Roman Walls - meet 2pm, by the boating lake, Castle Park. Lasts two and a half hours.

Mick and Christine Lavelle walk around the ancient walls of Colchester looking at the plants growing on or around this archaeological monument.