What's the difference between Deers Leap and TrekCo?
None - it's the same company, and our two bases for birthday parties in Sussex are next door to each other. So we're pretty flexible in arangements between the two. However, please turn up at the right place! (See below)
Where do we meet?
If you have booked a birthday party involving biking such as 'Rock and Ride' or 'Mountain Bike Extreme', meet at Deers Leap. The address is: Deers Leap Bikes, Saint Hill Green, East Grinstead, RH19 4NG. if using a satnav, this will take you to a small triangular junction. Go South for 200m towards Sharpthorne and you'll see our entrance clearly marked.The phone number is 01342 325858.
If you have booked either High Ropes Adventure or Multi Activity Experience go to: Blackland Farm, Grinstead Lane, East Grinstead, RH19 4HP. It's one mile south of Deers Leap on the same lane, clearly marked. The phone number is 01342 811251.
If you have booked Ultimate Extreme Combo, where you start depends on whether you're biking first or second half of the day. If you've chosen to bike first, go to Deers Leap at 10am. If you're high ropes etc in the morning and biking in the afternoon, go to Blackland Farm at 10am.
What's your postal address?
Please send any post to:
Trekking Company
Cranford House
Kingston Road
Lewes
BN7 3NB
This is the office address only; no activities take place here!
What time should we arrive?
Please get to us about 15 minutes before your time slot. We aim to intoduce ourselves, explain things and start activities straight away at the start of the time slot so that you get maximum activity time.
Is there an indoor space where we can eat?
At Deers Leap there is a space. You can book this for the time of your party and up to 1.5 hours afterwards for a £20 flat fee. Please leave it clean. The area is good for preparing food, with a sink, counter and basic tables & benches. You could get about 15 children in the room. There are toilets and a courtyard for children to amuse themselves in.
There is no indoor facility available at Blackland Farm for parties except for the accommodation blocks; these are rarely free but we can book one for about £70 for the day. This would include toilets, showers, and a full kitchen. You'd need to book a long time in advance and availability is generally very low, but please ask.
Is there an outdoor space where we can have a barbecue in the summer?
Yes, we have barbecue areas and grilles at Deers Leap that you can reserve for £20, just like the indoor space. They are about 200 yards from the car park at Deers Leap, but we can drive your food down there for you on our quad bike to save you carrying everything. There are safety rules for the barbie - mainly that you must have water and you must keep the fire supervised. There is a form to sign for this. Barbies must finish and the park be empty by 8.00pm latest; this is a local by-law connected with the use of Deers Leap.
What do we need to bring?
Just make sure the children are clothed appropriately for the weather with rough, loose clothes that you don't mind them getting dirty. The nature of most of our activities is rough and active, so please expect that clothing may be damaged and will certainly need washing.
What about medical conditions?
We have instructors who work with children with a wide variety of conditions. You do need to tell us in advance if you have a child coming who has any medical condition, whether you think it significant or not. Please ensure that they bring inhalers, epipens etc with them as needed.
It is important that other parents who are sending their children to us with your group are made fully aware of what their children will be taking part in.
Do I need to stay whilst the party is on?
Yes - we do need an adult present with the group, or at the very least on site. It is not possible to leave a group with us unsupervised; there must be a responsible adult (over 18 at a minumum) present at all times.
Booking Details - Money, Conditions etc.
Do I need to send a deposit?
Yes. Please send a £50 deposit for birthday parties. Cheques to 'Deers Leap Bikes' please, or call 01342 325858 to pay by card. Please make sure you clearly state which party you're paying for!
If you are booking a non-biking party like 'High Ropes Adventure' or 'Multi Activity Experience', please make cheques to 'TrekCo'. However, if you make a mistake don't worry, it's not important - either name will do.
Do you have time slots for the parties?
Yes, Parties are 10.00 - 1.00 or 1.30 - 4.30, with an extra 5.00 - 8.00 p.m. slot in the summer (May to September). If your party is two hours (biking), then it can be the time you choose within that slot.
Ultimate Extreme Combo, which is an all day extreme event, is 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
How early/late can I book?
Anytime you like; if we have a space then you can book. Just remember that you don't have a booking until we receive the deposit, and the deposit is not refundable.
Can I transfer my £50 deposit to another day?
Regrettably, no. The idea of the deposit is that once we get it, we'll keep the day for you and tell anyone else it's full. So we would be turning people away from that day - this means the deposit is forfeit if you change your mind.
What if I/someone else is ill?
You'd need to claim on your insurance; unfortunately we still have to pay our staff and will have kept the time for you, so we'd still have to ask you for the payment. This is standard for any event.
What if I have fewer than 8 people?
We still have to ask you to pay for 8 - that's the minimum.