Sussex - the Campsite
Our main venue in Sussex is Blackland Farm, located just south of East Grinstead, about 10 miles east of Gatwick Airport.
Camping
Camping is a fantastically rewarding experience in itself, and as a part of a residential trip it is invaluable. There is no substitute for sleeping under canvas and it should be something every young person has the opportunity to do.
Usually the best months for camping are between early May and early October. There's no guarantee of perfect weather at any of these times, but really bad weather that precludes camping is very rare.
Tents are 'Patrol' type tents familiar to Guides and Scouts - up to six students in a tent. Tents have waterproof groundsheets.
Campsites have their own toilet blocks - separate units for boys, girls and staff. Each unit has toilets, washing cubicles with hot water and a hot shower (operated by tokens - free from TrekCo).
Teacher tents are located near to students' tents, but can be repositioned anywhere very easily.
Meals are served in our large marquees which are located on your own campsite - you have exclusive use of your own marquee for dining and meetings. Tables and benches are provided. Food is brought in a by a meals service and caterers are all fully qualified - they can cater for almost any dietary requests. These should be forwarded to us a week ahead of your trip.
Indoor Accommodation
There is indoor accommodation at Blackland Farm but availability is limited - please call us. It is normal for summer months (and for weekends year round) to book one year in advance. The usual accommodation comprises two residential buildings adjacent to one another with a small courtyard between them. These provide accommodation for 24 students in each, plus rooms for teachers. Student accommodation is in one large dormitory in each building, so schools normally accommodate boys in one building, and girls in the other.
Beds are bunk style, and there is no bedding - so students need a sleeping bag and pillow. There are toilets, washbasins and hot showers in each building as well as a catering kitchen from where your meals are served. There is a large dining room with tables and chairs for meals and meetings. Each building has central heating. Both buildings are lockable from the inside, but with full bar-push fire exits.
Frequently Asked Questions (also see the
FAQ Page)
Q - How do we get to Blackland Farm?
A - Go to our directions page (see 'Information for Teachers') or see streetmap.co.uk
Q - Is our campsite shared with other schools?
A - No. Schools have completely separate facilities and are spaced well apart.
Q - Do teachers have individual tents?
A - Yes. Teachers have individual dome tents which can be moved instantly.
Q - How many tents do we have?
A - The maximum number of students per tent is 6, so we assume you'll have about 5 per tent. However, we do have extra tents so this is an approximate amount - call us before your course if you need to discuss the number of tents.
Q - Do we get all of our meals provided?
A - Yes, three meals are provided. We ask all schools to bring a packed lunch on their first day as this is the busiest and most subject to timetable changes. Squash and biscuits are available all day, and there are tea and coffee making facilities available to teachers all of the time. For emergency coffee there is a Starbucks 5 minutes' drive away in East Grinstead.
Q - What happens if the weather is awful?
A - The weather is rarely as bad as you think. If it does rain for more than a day, we have strategies for ensuring that students keep their kit dry, and many years of experience in this. There is no accommodation in reserve 'just in case', but there are contingency plans in case of an emergency to get students inside - for real emergencies only.
Please contact us on 01273 487509 or email
info@trekco.com for more information.