Terms and Conditions
1. Payment
A deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your place. All deposits are non-refundable.
The balance of your payment is due before the start date of the service. If booking within three weeks of the start date, full payment is required at the time of booking.
We reserve the right to cancel your booking if payment is not made to us when due.
Payments by cheque are subject to different clearing timescales and this should be taken into account when paying a deposit or balance.
2. Cancellation by Black Orchard
Should a course be cancelled by Black Orchard for any reason, we will endeavour to reschedule your booking, or refund any payments in full, including your deposit. We accept liability up to, but not exceeding the amount you have paid to us.
If it becomes necessary for Black Orchard to cancel your booking, we will endeavour to notify you as soon as reasonably practical.
We reserve the right to cancel your booking if you are found to be in breach of our Terms & Conditions or stated policies. You will be asked to leave the site and will not be entitled to a refund.
In the event of poor weather conditions that we deem to be a danger to you or the pigs, we reserve the right to postpone or cancel any booking. Please see Force Majeure.
Force Majeure - It may become necessary to cancel your booking due to events outside our control. In such circumstances, Black Orchard is not liable or responsible (including weather conditions, flooding, pandemic). We will make every effort to notify you of such events as soon as reasonably practical and will endeavour to reschedule your booking. If this is not possible, a full refund will be given, including your deposit.
3. Cancellation by You
Cancellation of a booking must be done in writing by letter or email. The date this notification is received by Black Orchard will be used to calculate whether a refund, if any, is applicable.
Refunds are calculated on the following basis:
Notification of cancellation received within 14 days of the start date = no refund
Notification of cancellation received between 15 and 27 days of start date = 50% refund, minus your deposit.
Notification of cancellation received 28 days (4 weeks) or more before the start date - full refund, minus your deposit.
4. Inclusions
See the descriptions of individual services for details of what you can expect to be provided by Black Orchard.
5. Exclusions
Travel expenses to and from the site.
Personal insurance.
Equipment or any items of a personal nature.
Medical supplies.
Meals unless specifically stated.
Telephone calls.
Flights, accommodation, car hire, public transport costs.
6. Health & Safety
Participants must be 18 years or older, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. The minimum age allowed is 12.
Services offered by Black Orchard involve visiting a rural area where there are natural hazards and access to medical facilities and amenities is limited. Your safety is our top priority, but it is a fundamental booking condition that all participants understand the risks, potential dangers and hazards associated with visiting such areas.
Black Orchard is a working farm and as such, you may encounter farm machinery and livestock . You should exercise care to prevent personal injury and not approach or interact with livestock unless under the supervision of Black Orchard.
Medical conditions and disabilities should be advised to Black Orchard at the time of booking. Advice will be given about whether any conditions may impact the participation.
Black Orchard personnel are not medically trained. You are responsible for your own personal health, fitness and medication and it is essential that you bring any necessary medical and first aid supplies with you.
7. Behaviour
For safety, we have a no smoking policy. Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on site.
You must follow all reasonable requests made by Black Orchard employees.
No dogs are permitted on site, other than registered assistance dogs.
Following any behaviour that, in our reasonable opinion, may cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to livestock, any third party, property, flora or fauna (including the collecting of any specimen from the natural world), Black Orchard are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate the service. We will have no further responsibility towards you and no refunds will be made.
We strongly advise you to familiarise yourself with the Countryside Code.
8. Travel
You must make all travel arrangements, be that by aeroplane, ferry, train, coach, ‘bus or other transport. Black Orchard cannot accept responsibility for changes or alterations to these arrangements.
Any independent arrangements you make, which are not part of Black Orchard's service, are entirely at your own risk.
Black Orchard cannot be held responsible for; the consequences of any delays, expenses incurred or alterations caused by illness, weather, war, terrorism, political events, civil strife, natural disaster, technical difficulties mechanical failure or any event beyond our control.
We strongly advise you have your own personal travel insurance in place, covering cancellation and curtailment, medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation), personal accident, injury and death in addition to loss/damage of personal possessions and flight cancellations/delays.
9. Insurance
We strongly advise you to purchase adequate insurance for the duration of the service and activities undertaken. Responsibility for arranging relevant insurance lies solely with you.
10. Personal Possessions
During our services, your possessions may be exposed to the elements or accidental damage. We are not responsible for any damage incurred to your personal possessions.
Please think carefully about what you bring with you and keep your valuables with you at all times.
Black Orchard reserves the right to cancel or curtail a service if you are not deemed to be suitably equipped for the planned activities. Details of all necessary equipment is stated on the relevant web page and in your booking confirmation.
11. Liability
Black Orchard will not accept responsibility for accidents, injury, illness, carelessness, negligence, lack of fitness and lack of punctuality attributable to you.
Black Orchard reserves the right to alter any part of a service’s content or itinerary for any reason and without notice, refund or additional charge. Any changes to the service will be of a similar quality to originally described and you will be advised of significant changes.
Black Orchard does not accept liability for death, bodily injury or illness unless this arises from the negligent act and/or omission of Black Orchard employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
Black Orchard cannot be held responsible for; the consequences of any delays, expenses incurred or alterations caused by illness, weather, war, terrorism, political events, civil strife, natural disaster, technical difficulties, mechanical failure, or any event beyond our control.
Black Orchard do not accept liability for any whilst cars parked on site.
12. Complaints
We hope that you find all aspects of your time with Black Orchard enjoyable, but if you have a complaint about a service, it must be made in writing and received by Black Orchard within fourteen days of the end of the activity taken part in.
13. Privacy
All information submitted is held electronically. No information will ever be passed to third parties. Should you wish not to have any information about you stored, please contact us.