It's required to take off planks around middle of garden (8,4)

I believe the answer is:

boarding card

'it's required to take off' is the definition.
(a boarding card is needed to take off on a plane)

'planks around middle of garden' is the wordplay.
'planks' becomes 'boarding' (boarding can mean wooden planks).
'around' becomes 'ca' (circa).
'middle of' indicates the central letters.
The middle of 'garden' is 'rd'.
'boarding'+'ca'+'rd'='BOARDING-CARD'

(Another definition for boarding card that I've seen is " What one needs to get on".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app