FOUNDER, GROWER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Catherine Middleditch
Cat is described by those who know her best as an energetic, inspirational, creative problem solver. A love for art, design, music and travelling has lead her to work all over the world including Western and Eastern Europe, South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Nepal, Kashmir and all over India.
She gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Brighton University in 2000, trained as a web designer, then moved into documentary film making and post production whilst travelling extensively between jobs. She also spent 2 years working for Kingston Art & Design College teaching multi-media to 16-19 year olds. In 2006, Cat discovered Permaculture and enrolled in a 2 day Introduction Course with Naturewise in North London. This course was quickly followed by a 2 week Permaculture Design Course which lead to doing her Permaculture Teacher Training. In 2007 she took a leap of faith and moved to rural South Devon leaving a stressful multi-media career and London behind her.
She discovered Wayfield (a 5 acre small holding) in 2009 which enabled her to put the theory and her new found passion into practice. Cat and Doug Lane (her partner at the time) officially opened The High Nature Centre in June 2013 after 4 years of working hard on the land experimenting with various community initiatives and learning how to build yurts. In winter 2014 Doug and Cat went their separate ways and Cat took on the management and development of the business.
She continues to holistically manage the Centre using a social-ecological design approach, focusing on business development, administration, and human resources. During her time off she loves to grow food, promote people care, meet other inspirational people, climb mountains and dance until the sun comes up!
Over the last 15 years Cat has gained a huge amount of knowledge and experience developing High Nature. If you have a similar project and need help with the planning or design process, feel free to get in contact.
SITE MANAGER
Tobdan Loyopa
Tobdan is one of those types of people who will put their hands to anything. Born in a Buddhist village called ‘Hillu Twan’ nestled in the Pangi Valley in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas he has grown up in a culture where being resourceful and multi-skilled is essential to survival. Known as the ‘High Nature Fixer’ you can often find him in his workshop fixing or building something. Whether it’s mechanics, carpentry, plumbing or farming, Tobdan is the man to go to!
He joined the High Nature Team in 2016 and alongside Cat has played a key role in helping to develop the Centre. His experience in farming, trekking and tourism along with managing beach huts and a beach restaurant in Goa for 4 years has proven him to be an invaluable asset to the Centre.
Tobdan is also a dedicated parent and a fantastic cook! You will often find him in the field kitchen cooking up some of the best Indian food you’ll ever taste. If you don’t believe us then get yourselves along to one our of our organic dining events.
Tobdan can sometimes be mis-interpreted as a serious character being rather difficult to read at times. However, it doesn’t take long to get to know that just below the surface is a very cheeky light-hearted character ready to make you laugh at the drop of a hat.
In his spare time you will find him watching or playing cricket, preferably playing!
YOGA TEACHER & OUTDOOR EDUCATOR
Abi Jones
Abi, the founder of VINOYASA grew up in Devon surrounded by nature spending much of her childhood on the beach or Dartmoor. Nature connection is instilled in her and is something she hopes to share. It is no surprise then, that Abi has been involved with High Nature since Cat and her met over a decade ago. Abi not only delivers weekly yoga classes but is also very involved in our social outreach programs offering transformative outdoor education sessions on nature mentoring and connection. Abi has become an important member of the High Nature family and we are so proud to have such an amazing inspiring woman on our team!
When not pouring into VINOYASA, Abi will be found surfing, swimming, skating, slacklining – anything fun and outdoors.
TECHNICIAN
Andrew Ashford
Ash is known as ‘Super Ash’ (or Uncle Ash) here at High Nature. He’s the man we go to for anything technical or mechanical. Ash has spent many years as a travelling mechanic for various creative projects including Footspan Theater, Turbo Unit, Ninja Tune and Innerfield Sound System. He has also worked for Glastonbury Festival for more than 25 years doing the electrics for the famous Kidz Field.
Ash is an old friend of Cat’s from her Brighton days which means that he’s been on board the High Nature ship from the beginning. He has been instrumental in setting up all the off-grid solar power for the yurts, shower cabin and field kitchen. He’s also the man who’s kept all our vehicles on the road over the years. We are so fortunate and forever gratful to have Ash in our lives. We are also a huge fan of his multi-talented son Leo who we hope will also continue to be an important member of the crew here at High Nature.
We can honestly say that High Nature wouldn’t have survived without him… we believe that every business needs an Ash!
WILD MEDICINE MAKER
Rosy Prowse
Rosy Cheeks, as she is known to many, is a wild medicine maker, an expert in plants, fungi and nutritional health. Rosy has been a friend and supporter of High Nature for many years and has more recently come on board to help deliver medicinal mushroom and foraging workshops to both the public and as part of our social outreach program. A keen forager and herbalist, her plant and fungi knowledge is very impressive which is one of the reasons we value her so highly here at High Nature. But her talents don’t end there! She is also an incredible musician and singer who can often be found sharing her musical creations around the fire at our weekly community dining events.
Rosy is without a doubt one of our key family members here at High Nature. She brings so much fun, knowledge and great conversation to the table… not to mention her healing tinctures and balms which are on sale here at reception.
HEALER
Moira Laidlaw
Moira Laidlaw is a fully trained Reflexologist and Resonance Sound Healer who has a passion for felt making and textiles. Moira has been involved with High Nature since the project was first ‘seeded’ back in 2009 when the land was known as Wayfield Nurseries. Moira and her family, husband Martin plus her 4 children Shornad, Finley, Dewrey and Nile (now adults) all contributed to setting up various community initiatives including food growing, a small poultry flock, and bee keeping. Fifteen years on, Moira’s involvement is now more focused on offering her healing services to both visitors and our social outreach program beneficaries.
As a mobile therapist, she practices in and around East Portlemouth, Kingsbridge and South Hams, delivering soothing restorative treatments both here at High Nature and in the comfort of people’s homes.
We are proud to have been working with Moira since the very beginning and hope to continue and develop this special relationship for many more years to come.
SOUND THERAPIST
Helen Phillips
Helen creates immersive Sound Journey’s and collaborations, with beautuful world instruments including Gongs, Handpans, Crystal & Tibetan Singing Bowl, Chimes and Native Flute with the intention to create mediative, deeply relaxing experiences.
We are so grateful to have been connecting with Helen for many years, since before she started her sound healing journey. Helen has been a great supporter of High Nature offering her delicious hand-made raw chocolates at our Creative Women’s lunches and Clothes swapping events back in 2018.
Helen delivers Sound Journey Meditations for community events, retreats, private bookings for those staying, and for our social outreach programs. Her offerings fit perfectly with the natural and the tranquil atmosphere here at High Nature, contributing to the overall wellbeing experience.
ARTIST
Naomi Vincent
Naomi Vincent is a South Devon based visual artist/sculptor, who as well as dedicating time to her own work appreciates the value of sharing her creative vision with the local community and visitors to the area in a hands on way. Her wonderful business ‘Natureamake’ was founded at the same time as High Nature so we’ve been following her development alongside our own, and what a journey we’ve both been on!
Naomi has been offering her magical Naturemake workshops to various visitors and groups here at High Nature since 2013. More recently her focus has been on delivering sessions to our social outreach groups. These sessions remain one of our most creative and impactful workshops, which is why we’re so grateful to have Naomi living so locally.
She has inspired and influenced many children with her fun and inspirational art workshops which she regularly brings into Devon schools.
GARDENER
Zach Young
Zach joined the High Nature team in May 2024 and only intended to stay for two weeks as a volunteer, but he was captured by the magic of High Nature and ended up staying for the whole season! He mainly helped out in the gardens, maintaining the kitchen gardens, mowing the meadows and doing tree care. He also played an integral role in designing and developing the High Nature herbal medicine garden. Zach found plenty of opportunities to help out in other ways too, like preparing meals for our weekly community gatherings and hanging out with Tanzen (Cat & Tobdan’s daughter).
Zach told us that High Nature holds a special place in his heart and we can honestly say that the feeling is mutual. We hope that Zach will be back to help out as much as he can whilst he juggles all his other commitments. He is keeping a close eye on developments here so we will be doing everything we can to keep him on board in some capacity!
Location
The High Nature Centre, East Portlemouth, Salcombe, TQ8 8PN