Birds are an essential part of any plot, bringing colour, sound and valuable pest control. But bigger birds, such as pigeons, can quickly become a problem if they're allowed to roam freely among your garden crops. They love to pull up new seedlings and chomp on the tasty tops of brassicas.

It is illegal to kill pigeons or any other wild bird species due to the wording of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. This means that these pests can only be repelled, and experts at Pest Solutions recommend one particular natural method involving the use of CDs.

They said: "Magpies might like shiny things, but most birds, like pigeons, will steer well clear of your garden if you have any reflective object.

"Hanging old CDs on a string that will move in the wind can be surprisingly effective at scaring off pigeons."

When the sun hits the reflective object, it creates a prism effect which interferes with pigeons' eyesight.

Fed up with pigeons fouling her garden chairs, Rachel took to her blog, The Ponds Farm, to share how to use CDs as a deterrent.

She said: "We have tried several bird-repellent devices, and some work for a while. However, since we made our DIY bird scare device, we have not had to clean a single chair.

First, you will need two CDs and fishing wire or some sort of string, then drill a small hole in the CDs. The smaller hole at the top allows them to spin faster.

Place the CDs with the reflective sides facing out and align the holes. Next, tie approximately 15 inches of wire to the aligned holes to secure it.

To hang the bird deterrent devices, first, determine where you want them placed. Rachel said: "We placed them at the openings of our outdoor spaces. We have not had a drop of bird poop on our chairs since they were installed."