Donating Oak to Help Create a Community Space
At English Woodlands Timber, we’re proud to support projects that bring people together. When Midhurst Town Council began transforming the neglected Curfew Garden, we were pleased to help. We donated oak posts for its new garden shelter.
Curfew Garden is a quarter-acre enclosure off Knockhundred Row, next to the Old Library in Midhurst. Its history dates back to medieval times. The garden has long-standing links to growing produce for the local community.
In just 12 weeks, volunteers, local businesses and community organisations transformed the unused space behind the Old Library. They turned it into a welcoming, accessible garden for everyone to enjoy.
A Garden for the Whole Community
The Community Growing Garden has been designed to support people and nature. It includes pollinator-friendly flowers, raised vegetable beds, fruit trees and peaceful seating areas.
In 2025, Councillor Danielle Martin developed plans to bring the neglected site back into use. Ben Pope helped shape the plans. Together, they aimed to create a productive fruit and vegetable garden for Midhurst residents.
Produce grown in the garden will be donated to the Midhurst Community Hub. There, free meals are prepared for people in need. The project also helps tackle loneliness by giving local people a welcoming place to connect.
The garden was officially opened by Lady Emma Barnard, Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex. Andrew Griffith MP also attended, alongside representatives from Midhurst Town Council and Chichester District Council.
Our Contribution 
English Woodlands Timber donated the solid oak posts used to build the garden’s new shelter. Oak is naturally strong, durable and well suited to outdoor use. It was the ideal choice for a structure designed to serve the community for years to come.
Ben, our Homegrown Timber Manager, heard about the project through Cllr Martin. With support from English Woodlands Timber, he helped supply enough oak to build a pergola. The shelter gives volunteers a place to rest, pot seedlings and harvest rainwater from the new roof. Ben also built a three-stage composting system, a large potting bench and climbing frames for fruit and vegetables. All were made using materials donated by English Woodlands Timber.
Danielle and Ben each donate around 8 to 10 hours a week to keep the garden running. They work alongside a dedicated team of local volunteers who help make the project possible.
Growing for the Future
Curfew Garden is now a peaceful green space where people can garden, volunteer, relax and connect with nature. It is biodiverse and completely organic. It is also actively managed to support pollinators and wildlife.
The crops are already being used in freshly cooked meals at the Community Hub, helping the garden deliver real benefits for local residents.
We’re proud to have contributed to a project that celebrates British timber. It also supports local volunteers and strengthens the wider Midhurst community. We look forward to seeing Curfew Garden continue to grow and thrive for many years to come.
