Small Talk with horticulturist, garden and landscape designer – Peter Stam

Horticulturist, garden and landscape designer – Peter Stam

"There is certainly a bright future for Irish horticulture" - Peter Stam talks about his hopes for the future of Irish horticulture

Horticulture

5 November 2026

In association with Gardenworld Nurseries

At Growtrade, we’re running an interview series titled ‘Small Talk’, where we talk to various influential members of Ireland’s horticulture trade.

This week’s conversation is with a horticulturist, garden and landscape designer – Peter Stam.

How did you first get involved in the horticulture sector?

It was on my father’s allotment in Rotterdam, around the age of 7 years. It was a purpose-built design complex for the community. Each site had its own little garden house where people could spend whole days gardening and socialising with their neighbours. The local Association had a strong community ethos and a high maintenance standards requiring voluntary work to keep it all well maintained. A true 1960’s/70s ethos! Small areas were also allocated to Primary Schools, where children could get involved and enjoy working with nature. Very happy days. I even won a few medals for my efforts.

Years later I attended Boskoop College for my training. The first things taught were the identification of plants and their growing habits in the surrounding nurseries in this famous area of the Netherlands. That solid foundation has stood to me over the years.

What was one of the proudest moments in your career to date?

Being one of the founding members of the GLDA and much later showing a few colleagues from the GLDA a grove of 30 thriving semi mature Podocarpus salignus (Chilean Yew) an endangered species in Chile, one of my early specialities. I grew them from rooted cuttings taken from Fota Arboretum thirty years earlier. They were acquired by Blarney Castle and can now be admired in the Pinetum there.

What was one of the greatest challenges you’ve faced in your career to date?

I started off developing my nursery in a 4-acre walled garden on an old estate. This eventually became too small. We acquired a 5-acre small holding with a ruin in the same area in 2002 and moved to this new site. Being your own boss has its advantages but of course it brings its challenges and responsibilities too. The harsh winters of 2009 and 2010 and the recession really hit hard. These were tough years. I think it is great credit to all of us in the hardy nursery stock industry that most of us survived.

Could you give us an example of a recent success you had in your work?

The last 10 to 15 years the nursery took all my attention with the result that garden design took a back seat. So, my most recent success/pleasure is more personal. My sons needed designs for their own gardens. It gave me great satisfaction to design and oversee their gardens being landscaped. Some of my treasured woody plants and bamboos ended up with them. One of these gardens was featured in the Irish garden magazine. I may still make gardeners out of them!

What are the greatest challenges facing the industry today?

Thankfully there are far more horticultural colleges throughout Ireland now. While educational choices and quality have greatly improved over the years, the lack of basic and focused skills is still noticeable. Something I know colleges and industry are in regular contact about but needs ongoing attention. Stronger promotion on the rewarding and satisfying careers in horticulture needs to be addressed. Also, the lack of proper appreciation and financial reward for craft gardeners is an ongoing concern.

What are the greatest opportunities facing the industry today?

Social media has created a fascinating new promotional tool, making gardening trendy and looking more attractive again. Influencers are very good at promoting this and informing people of the importance of improving the environment.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career?

I would strongly recommend, once students have finished their horticultural education, to go abroad for at least one year. Depending on the direction chosen, go to countries like Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands to gain interesting experiences and new perspectives.

What are your hopes for the future of Irish horticulture?

There is certainly a bright future for Irish horticulture. As always, it depends on the right financial support and mentoring whether you are starting your own business as a grower, garden designer or landscape contractor.

Teagasc and Bord Bia are excellent and are there to support you. Horticulture is often referred to as a lifestyle choice. That is true but it is also people’s livelihood, carried out in a professional way by very committed people. Like all other professions it should be properly supported and promoted. Even more so in these challenging environmental times.

Small Talk is produced in association with Gardenworld Nurseries, one of the country’s leading wholesale plant nurseries, specialising in high-quality specimen trees, hedging, shrubs, and perennials.

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