As springtime gets into full swing with , many Brits will be looking to get into the for some planting, barbecues and sprucing up ahead of the summer months.

One popular garden item is a bird feeder, left out by homeowners to attract flighted creatures and bring their colourful variety to their doorstep. However, owners of these feeders are often plagued by a common problem: squirrels eating the food left for birds. Squirrels are intelligent and agile, able to scale heights and reach bird feeders even when they're tucked away or placed deliberately out of their way. They can jump five feet (1.5 metres) vertically and a strong 10 feet (3 metres) horizontally, meaning it's not as simple as leaving bird feeders high off the ground. have put together a list of tips to keep squirrels away from bird feeders, one of which features a common household item.

At just £1.80 from high street stores like , petroleum jelly could be a handy solution to keeping bird feeders accessible only to winged friends.

The team at Ark Wildlife advises applying the jelly to the pole holding the bird feeder in the air. Importantly, it is not recommended to apply it to the feeder itself as this can harm birds.

They said Vaseline or petroleum jelly can make feeder poles "too slippery for squirrels to climb, temporarily preventing access".

It's likely that many Brits have a tin of the jelly lying in a cupboard or pocket around the house, so this could be an easy way to tick one spring job off the list.

However, it isn't strongly recommended as a solution to the squirrel problem because it wears off over time and requires regular reapplication.

Squirrels who persevere in their hunt for bird food might end up covered in the jelly, which can affect their fur, while birds' feathers can be damaged, meaning it's not the preferred solution to the problem.

Also featured on the list of tips to keep squirrels out of bird feeders is choosing the right bird food, because not all of it attracts the bushy-tailed climbers.

While squirrels love sunflower seeds, peanuts and suet, they are not as likely to devour capsaicin-treated seed, niger seeds or safflower seeds.

Meanwhile, there are some bird feeders which come squirrel-proofed for peace of mind, with weight-sensitive perches, caged feeders and domed designs which make it difficult for squirrels to climb down all available to garden owners.

Wrapping aluminium foil around feeder poles can also be an effective deterrent to squirrels, who dislike the texture and reflective surface.