My country memories

Cookery writer Mary Berry follows the seasonal traditions she learnt growing up on a farm in the countryside just outside Bath

‘Growing up as I did, everything went with the season. We'd pick elderflowers in May and make elderflower cordial. We always used to look for mushrooms and rarely found any. My favourite thing as a child was primrosing in March. We didn't pick violets because they were too difficult to find, and flowers such as bluebells never lasted in water, but primroses were perfect - I even have a painting of primrose posies because it brings back such fond memories.

‘In summer we'd go prawning in the rock pools and cook them over a beach fire. We would go winkling and cook them in salted water, then pull them out with a pin and dip them in vinegar. And after the first frost in October, we would collect sloe berries and make sloe gin.'

Mary Berry's latest book, ‘One Step Ahead' (Quadrille, £19.99), features over 100 recipe ideas for relaxed entertaining