Even though foxes are generally harmless, it doesn't mean everybody wants them in their backyard. For green-fingered gardeners, their visit might mean plants get trampled, fruit gets snatched, or holes start appearing in the flowerbed as they follow their noses to find food.

City dwellers have other issues, often waking up to ripped bin bags after foxes have rifled through them in search of leftovers. No matter how much of a nuisance they may be, foxes are important to the ecosystem, and it's essential to use humane ways to deter them from the garden. Three store cupboard spices work as a natural deterrent because foxes hate the smell, and it avoids harsh chemicals that could cause harm to foxes, other wildlife and plants.

The secret is a mix of peppermint, garlic and cayenne pepper, which blend together to make a smell that foxes can't stand. 

A wildlife expert, Eric Michels, told Woman & Home: "Spices such as cayenne pepper, peppermint and garlic, as the smell will put them off. You can also infuse the spices in boiling water, and then spritz around the garden as an additional repellent."

The natural method keeps in line with rewilding as it avoids upsetting birds or insects in the garden, according to Michels, the head of products for bird feeder experts, Vivara and CJ Wildlife.

The spices could also be sprinkled around the perimeter of the garden if the spritzing doesn't put them off. 

The bushy-tailed animals also dislike bright lights, so if there is one particularly bad hangout spot, you could think about installing a night light.

Loud noises are just as off-putting, and an ultrasonic deterrent fires out high-pitched sounds that are undetectable to the human ear, but unbearable to foxes. Dog owners should research this beforehand, as it could have the same effect on your pet.