Case Study - Countryside Gates and Fencing

Monday 17 August 2026

Thirty five years in timber, and a business that has changed shape twice

Countryside Gates and Fencing started in 1989 as a fencing company, but within three years it had diversified into a second business making show jumps and cross country fences, work that carries on today under the sister company Countryside Equestrian Ltd. Both businesses run from our office and workshops in Clopton, close to both Woodbridge and Ipswich.

The bigger change came later. Having come through several recessions, and the deep downturn of 2012 in particular, we moved the emphasis of the fencing business away from large contracts and new housing work and towards gates, especially in hardwood and in the more bespoke styles. It was a deliberate shift towards a slower, more involved kind of job. We have much more customer involvement, talking through what they want to achieve through the various options. Alongside the installation work we also sell gates and timber on a supply only basis right across the country.

The timber, the finish, and the conversation first

A bespoke gate is not chosen from a page. It is worked out: the opening, the fall of the ground, the timber, the style, how it will be hung and how it will look in five years. We work in iroko, sapele and oak as well as pressure treated softwood, and finish gates natural, oiled, stained or painted.

The range runs from pedestrian and side gates through to driveway and courtyard pairs, wooden garage doors, and fencing designed for awkward ground. Automation is handled with partner installers where a customer wants it. Curved frames, matching screens and gates built to fit an existing brick opening are all part of the ordinary week rather than a special request.

Finishes are matched to the job rather than picked off a standard chart, using Farrow and Ball, Cuprinol or Rubio oil depending on the timber and the look the customer is after.

An approved scheme, not a commercial listing

We were clear about why we wanted Suffolk Trusted Trader rather than one of the paid for directories. We wanted to be able to stress the quality service and products that we provide, and to have the status of Trading Standards approval on our website and literature. We also wanted an Approved scheme that carried more weight than the commercial sites.

Suffolk Trusted Trader is run in partnership with Suffolk County Council Trading Standards. The checks are made on the business and its owners, which is what gives the scheme its weight, and it is why joining takes longer than filling in a form.

A process that took a while, as it should

I found the process quite straightforward and not particularly difficult. It took a while, but that was to be expected given the checks that were made. A few calls with the Trusted Trader team during set up were sorted out without any fuss.

What we found afterwards has matched what we wanted from it. The Trusted Trader website is nicely presented and the review section is clear for people to see. It has been everything we expected.

“Being part of the Trusted Trader scheme reflects our own confidence in our ability to do business the right way.”

Less than a year in, and quotes are landing better

Membership is still new, so I am careful not to overclaim. Having been a member for less than a year it is difficult to quantify an achievement, but there is one thing I can point to: our success rate with quotes has improved.

Putting the logo where customers will see it

The scheme is not something we joined and then filed away. We use the Trading Standards Approved logo on our website quite prominently, on our letterheads and email footers, and also on vehicle stickers. We actively direct customers to the review page via the link.

That last part matters more than it sounds. Sending a prospective customer straight to an independent review page, rather than to a page of selected testimonials, is a small act of confidence that most people notice.

Steady growth, one brick at a time

With all the upheaval in the world, stability and steady growth have to be our main aims. Membership of the scheme is an important brick in the wall in achieving this.

What sets us apart is the part that does not appear on an invoice. I feel the level of service, customer involvement and the time we take to talk to our customers sets us apart from most other companies, and our customers appreciate this, judging by the repeat trade and recommendations we receive.

Neil MacDonald
Owner Director, Countryside Gates and Fencing

Questions we are often asked

Where do Countryside Gates and Fencing work?
Supply and installation within about 80 miles of the workshops at Clopton, close to both Woodbridge and Ipswich, which covers Suffolk and much of the surrounding counties. Gates and timber are also supplied on their own, delivered nationwide.

Which timbers can a gate be made from?
Iroko, sapele and oak hardwoods, or pressure treated softwood. Gates can be left natural, oiled, stained or painted to a chosen colour, and frames can be made curved or shaped to suit an existing opening.

Has the business been checked by Trading Standards?
Yes. Countryside Gates and Fencing is a Suffolk Trusted Trader member, a scheme run in partnership with Suffolk County Council Trading Standards, and the business and its owners have been checked and approved by Trading Standards. Trading Standards check and approve the business and its owners, they do not check, inspect or approve the quality of the work carried out, so the workmanship is judged in the customer reviews on the profile.

• View Countryside Gates and Fencing's Suffolk Trusted Trader profile.
• Read Countryside Gates and Fencing's verified customer reviews.
• If you would like to become a Trusted Trader, you can apply here.
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