New research, from baking company Dr Oetker, reveals a third (34 per cent) of people in the South-East believe home bakers make better parents and 87 per cent would like to see their children taught how to cook and bake more in school.

It seems that baking represents great family bonding time (59 per cent) and over a quarter (27 per cent) of people in the South-East say their fondest childhood memories are baking with their parents or grandparents.

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However, most of us don't have the time (23 per cent) or 'know how' (20 per cent) to bake and a third of us are put off by the thought of washing up afterwards (32 per cent).

In fact, the average person in the South-East bakes only 2.3 times a year (women 2.9 and men 1.6) whilst over half the nation (51 per cent) don't know what goes into a sponge cake and nearly two thirds (63 per cent) can't put together a classic English scone.

In a bid to get back to basics, encourage the nation to spend more quality time baking with the family and raise money for Breast Cancer Care, Dr Oetker is launching www.bakemap.co.uk, an online resource of recipes donated by the British public.

Whilst the desire to bake more frequently is evident (42 per cent) given today's busy lifestyles it is no surprise that two thirds (62 per cent) of British women bake less often than their mothers did.

Yet today's younger generation could be asking dad for baking tips as two thirds (63 per cent) of men are baking more often than their fathers ever did.

So, all is not lost and given the right tools a quarter (23 per cent) of us could be enticed back into the kitchen if we had more quick and easy recipes to follow, better baking knowledge (20 per cent) and someone to bake for (18 per cent).

Fronted by busy mum and television chef Sophie Grigson, the interactive microsite will invite the nation to upload their much-loved recipes and create a virtual cake map of the UK and Ireland. However, for busy people looking for simple and easy ideas there will be a selection of tried and tested cheats and 'quick bake' recipes available.

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