Care home residents in Woolmer Green have joined students in a nationwide drive to save traditional family recipes from extinction.

A poll commissioned by Care UK, who run Knebworth on London Road, found 65 per cent of Brits no longer use family recipes handed down through generations.

Yet, 43 per cent of respondents expressed a desire to preserve these culinary traditions.

In response, Care UK is offering a free downloadable recipe book called Recipes to Remember, filled with meals shared by care home residents across the country.

As detailed in Recipes to Remember, the dishes range from wartime staples to 1970s desserts, reflecting residents’ favourite foods.

The book also includes recipes adapted to support the nutritional needs of elderly people, prepared by Care UK’s award-winning chefs.

Enthusiastic residents from Knebworth, alongside students from Knebworth Primary and Nursery School, have been cooking and sharing favourite dishes from the past.

Together they baked a delicious spiced cake, a beloved recipe of resident Marian, traditionally made every harvest.

Marian said: "It was a pleasure to watch the children making the cake.

"It’s important for children to learn to cook from a recipe, as well as trying a traditional method of baking and the comparison in taste.

"I’m pleased to see children being encouraged to cook, it was very satisfactory."

The activities also acted as inspiration for the home’s chefs.

Daniel Grab, home manager at Knebworth, said: "There’s certainly been some interesting foods cooked up in the kitchen here at Knebworth, after we welcomed students from Knebworth Primary and Nursery School.

"It’s been brilliant delving into the decades with the students to revisit residents’ favourite past recipes... The residents and students have certainly given our Head Chef something to consider when planning their next menu.

"We’d like to say a big thank you to the local pupils for coming along to Knebworth and can’t wait to see what they cook up next, now they’ve been inspired by the past - you tasted it here first."

For more information on how to download the Recipes to Remember book, visit careuk.com/recipes-to-remember.