It is expected that gardens will be the topic of conversation at a garden party, particularly when National MP and garden-guru Maggie Barry is the guest speaker.

About 180 people attended the fundraising venture for Tauranga MP Simon Bridges today, hosted by Sally Morrison, of which Maggie was an invited speaker.

Host Sally Morrison with guest speaker National MP Maggie Barry.

A household name for ‘Maggie's Garden Show' before turning to politics, the North Shore politician says she 'loves a good garden” and has been able to keep her hand in both with her future role.

'I think for someone like me, I have a lifelong love of plants and this will continue to be part of my focus in politics. I am in fact convener and host of the Bluegreen Forum next weekend so I am looking forward to being part of the solution when it comes to conservation and environment. We are announcing some big policy changes."

She says she has felt 'on the sidelines” for many years around issues of environment, as both a TV host and a broadcast journalist, but now her political role will enable her to get her hands dirty.

While she jokes the topic of conversation today will be on 'the snail problem being quite shocking this summer”, Maggie advocates that backyard gardening does have a significant place in world climate change.

'I truly believe saving the planet starts in your own backyard. The key is to not be overwhelmed and daunted by the science of climate change but concentrate on doing your own bit and spreading it out from there. Things are very different from when I started. People are no longer using heavy duty chemicals for the sake of it but investing an interest in the environment's well-being.”