Opal Goldring: How Play, Nature & Community Help Us Feel Alive Again

In this episode of South to North Walk, Isabella sits down with Opal Goldring, co-founder of Roots of Play, to explore nature connection, community, tree climbing, basket weaving, and the importance of bringing play back into everyday life.Opal shares how her childhood in South Africa, her love of climbing trees, her background in outdoor leadership, and her creative work with natural fibres all shaped the way she sees the world. Through Roots of Play, Opal and Charlie create events across the UK and Europe that invite people outdoors to reconnect with their local environment in playful, meaningful, and community-building ways.This conversation explores why adults lose touch with play, how nature helps people feel less alone, why risk is essential for learning and aliveness, and how small acts — like standing on one leg while brushing your teeth, climbing over a gate, weaving a basket, or noticing plants on a walk — can bring more joy, presence, and connection into daily life.If you’ve been craving more community, more nature, more creativity, or more permission to live playfully, this episode is for you.Follow Opal and Roots of Play:@[email protected] by Isabella PlutinoSouth to North Walk — one story can inspire thousands of communities.