Dame Mary Berry on her love of gardening and why she has no plans to retire

Dame Mary Berry says her love of gardening began in childhood during wartime, when she was often unable to leave the house.

The TV cook and former Great British Bake Off judge, who was born in Bath, has released her first gardening book, My Gardening Life.

Speaking at Hay Festival with comedian and former host of The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc, Dame Mary recalled picking strawberries with her father and playing in the garden as a child.

She also revealed she "failed every subject at school" and authored the book with the help of a writer.

Dame Mary, 91, recalled how, during wartime, her father grew practical crops such as potatoes, sweet peas and celery to feed the family.

"You had to dig for victory," she said.

She said she had her own small patch where she grew radishes and lettuce, while learning the importance of patience for gardening.

"When I was little it was wartime - you didn't have theme parks and we couldn't actually go to the park in parts of the war because we weren't allowed out of the garden," she said.

"We enjoyed the garden and since then I've always enjoyed the outdoors.

"To me the garden is a sanctuary. The first thing I do when I get home is open the back door, the dogs follow me out and I check whether my husband has done the watering and if not, I'll do it."

Dame Mary said her first garden as a married woman was at a home on Farmer Street in Notting Hill, west London.

Although they loved the house, she recalled the garden being small and in "total shade".

"I planted all my favourite plants and nothing happened," she said.

Dame Mary later moved with her husband and two sons to the countryside in Penn, Buckinghamshire, where she was finally able to develop her gardening skills.

"We thoroughly enjoyed it and I really started to learn about gardening," she said.

Her home, Watercroft, featured a 3.5-acre garden that was part of the National Garden Scheme for 10 years, allowing visitors to explore it.

After her children left home, the couple downsized to their current property in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire, near their family.

Their garden now includes a greenhouse, a pond, hedges, raised beds and plenty of roses, with some of the design inspired by fellow gardener and author Alan Titchmarsh.

"It's sensible to grow what you eat," Dame Mary said, revealing they currently grow red onions, lettuce and carrots.

Dame Mary described gardening as "all a learning curve" and said careful planning was key, although she acknowledged she has had a gardener helping one day a week for the past 32 years.

Sharing her gardening tips, she advised people to test their soil, study where the sun falls in their garden, understand the best placement for plants and keep a list of flowers and plants they like before researching them properly.

Dame Mary also said her two spaniels had been trained to stay off the lawn and flower beds.

"I love my dogs, but I get very angry if they go on the flower beds."

She added that gardening and cooking "go very well together" and described spending time outdoors as "so good" for mental wellbeing.

Asked about the key to a happy life, she said: "To be kind."

Her advice to young people was to "follow your dreams, work hard and take every opportunity you can", especially during school holidays to gain experience and strengthen a CV.

"I love what I do, so why would I retire?" she added.