A Kent community has been baffled by a totem pole that has mysteriously sprung up, prompting theories from it being an art statement to an alien invasion.
The 2.4-metre wooden pole is planted in the hillside on the North Downs Way between Folkestone and Dover without anyone fessing up to how it got there.
Already a local tourist attraction, Kent Wildlife Trust is applying for retrospective planning permission to keep it there – despite not knowing where the totem pole is from.
Ian Rickards said: “The artist behind this would have spent hours painstakingly carving out the details and we are keen to keep it on our reserve.
“The artwork seems to be a hit with the walkers who have taken selfies and congratulated us on the installation, but we had no idea how it came to be there – it’s a ‘Totem’ mystery!”
The pole is sited at the nature reserve in Capel-Le-Ferne. It is carved from a single tree and is inscribed with the name Perkūnas, a Baltic god.
Kent Wildlife Trust has said that Dover District Council has given it eight weeks to submit planning permission but more information might be needed if it is to be successful.
Mr Rickards added: “The local council has given us eight weeks to submit planning permission and it would be great to track down the person behind PerkÅ«nas to get a bit more detail so we can keep it.
“The planning application will incur a cost to the trust, so if anyone would like to make a donation to help fund the process, it would be gratefully received.”
The trust said the totem pole is situated a few miles from the recently released red-billed choughs, who are now flying above the White Cliffs of Dover as part of a reintroduction project between Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust, supported by Paradise Park Cornwall.
General donations can be made on the Kent Wildlife Trust website.
