City & Country Donates £2,000 to Support Midhurst Community Garden Restoration

Award-winning heritage housebuilder City & Country has donated £2,000 towards essential wall repairs at the Midhurst Community Growing Garden, supporting Midhurst Town Council’s plans to revitalise this much-loved green space.

Located within Curfew Garden in Midhurst, West Sussex, the community garden is currently undergoing a thoughtful redesign to create a peaceful, welcoming environment for local residents. A key part of the project involves restoring the traditional stone wall at the southern end of the garden, which had fallen into disrepair and required urgent attention.

City & Country’s donation will ensure that the wall is safely repaired and preserved, helping to protect both visitors and volunteers while maintaining the historic integrity of the space for years to come.

The redevelopment plans for the garden include the introduction of an accessible pathway, a sheltered seating area, and dedicated growing spaces for fresh produce. This produce will be used to support Midhurst Community Hub’s weekly community lunches, strengthening local connections while promoting sustainability and wellbeing. The garden will also play an important role in encouraging biodiversity and providing a tranquil outdoor space that supports mental health across all generations.

Curfew Garden itself holds a rich history dating back to the 12th century. Local tradition tells of a traveller who, having been guided to safety by the sound of the parish church curfew bell, purchased the land as a gesture of gratitude, allowing the bell ringer to grow fruit and vegetables there. Today, that legacy of community use continues through the growing garden project.

Michael Burt, Sales Director at City & Country, said: “We are proud to contribute to Midhurst’s community garden project. Our donation will help restore the garden’s legacy while also protecting the local ecosystem and wildlife. At City & Country, we have worked on several restoration projects with rich histories, and supporting communities remains at the heart of what we do. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this space will have.”

Richard Watts, Chairman of Midhurst Town Council, added: “Curfew Garden’s historic wall is an integral part of the landscape but has long required repair. As the Community Growing Garden project progresses, it is essential that the wall is restored to a safe and structurally sound condition to protect volunteers and visitors, and to secure the future of this important space. We are extremely grateful to City & Country for their generous support in making these works possible.”

Situated in the heart of Midhurst, behind the Old Library on Knockhundred Row, Curfew Garden is set to become a vibrant hub for the local community once complete.

City & Country continues to invest in the area, having recently revealed the next phase of its plans for the historic King Edward VII Estate, located within the South Downs National Park. The site, which has been sensitively redeveloped over the past 13 years, has been transformed from a former hospital - opened in 1906—into a collection of luxury homes. The latest release, The King’s Collection, is now available off-plan, with prices starting from £420,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.