In some ways of thinkin ye would be right to assume a sword is na alive but others would disagree since it is made of the earth as are we all but theories differ on this so i will na delve there. My point be this about the sword, it started as a piece of metal nothing more, it was us who crafted it into a weapon it could have been a fire poker or fence rail instead, so we are to blame for what it is and how it be used na the item itself.
similarly the grove is an area of forest that as ye said be living and was there long before any of us, it only becomes a grove through the imprinting , a gift of the Earthmother. The choice to use the grove now as a weapon is the imprinter of that grove na the forest itself for it has no reason to strike at you save Lady Gaia sees fit to do so for it be her domain.

Mandel FoeHammer, The Guardian
With the retribution ye speak of, I see attackin the grove as dishonourable at best. The choice was made by the holder of that grove and in so all responsibility for its use bad or good, deal out retribution where it belongs to the one who had the freedom of choice to attack ye, in this the forest had no choice.

Penned by my hand on the 4th of Scarlatan, in the year 243 AF.