About Grovewood
Grovewood is a small, independent workshop based in Shropshire, run by me, Benedict. I build each gate with a focus on balanced proportions and traditional joinery — creating timeless, quality wooden gates that are made to last in both form and function.
How it Started
Grovewood began after I discovered an unexpected fascination with gates in my late twenties while working at a timber merchant during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Having studied media and photography at university, I’d started a Photo Booth business a few years earlier, which was put on hold. I’d always been interested in woodwork, and the plan was to build a shed during lockdown — but when I went to order the materials, I noticed a job listing on the timber merchant’s website. It felt like a natural opportunity to explore my interest in woodworking more seriously while things got back to normal, I got the job and the shed was put on hold!
It turned out I enjoyed it more than expected, and I continued working at the timber merchant for two years alongside running the Photo Booth (the shed eventually got built, too).
After learning the basics of gate making — and taking a short break — I hired a small workshop and began teaching myself more advanced joinery, taking on small jobs for family and people in the local community.
Along the way, I became interested in classical design principles — the ideas and techniques once used to bring harmony and proportion to furniture and architecture — and began applying them to gate design as well.
What began as a stopgap during a difficult time became a genuine passion and a craft I’ve grown deeply connected to. Today, I continue to run both my Photo Booth business and Grovewood side by side, combining my creative background with a love for making things by hand.
My Approach
My approach is simple — to offer well-made gates in a straightforward, honest way. The website is easy to use, pricing is clear, and ordering is simple. Every gate is made with care and attention to detail, meeting the same high standards I set for myself. If I wouldn’t be happy with it, I won’t send it out.
I take the time to do things properly, to make sure every gate is built to last. In recent years, there’s been a growing trend toward built-in obsolescence and a decline in the quality of how things are made. I believe it should be the opposite — things should stand the test of time and serve their purpose for years to come. With the right care and attention, that’s exactly what my gates are built to do.
Materials & Sustainability
I focus on using responsibly sourced timber that balances performance with sustainability. The main timber I use is FSC-certified European redwood, sourced from well-managed forests in northern Europe. It’s a quick-growing, renewable softwood that provides excellent strength and durability for exterior joinery when finished with a quality coating and properly maintained.
I also use British-grown larch — a strong, naturally durable timber that supports local forestry and reduces transport impact. It’s sourced from well-managed forests with a long-term vision for sustainable woodland. Imported hardwoods such as Iroko and Sapele are avoided where possible due to complex supply chains and sustainability concerns. Although they remain popular, global demand has made them increasingly unsustainable, and sourcing transparency is not always reliable.
In addition to redwood and larch, Accoya® will soon be available as a premium option. Accoya is a modern, modified softwood that combines fast-growing timber with an advanced acetylation process — making it exceptionally stable, long-lasting, and environmentally responsible.
Across every material choice, my aim is to use timber that’s renewable, traceable, and built to last.