Mysterious Totem Pole appeared at Capel-le-Ferne Photo: Kent Wildlife Trust
A mysterious totem pole has appeared at a nature reserve in Capel-Le-Ferne, and the Kent Wildlife Trust wants to know who carved it.
The totem pole, which is made from a single tree and features a fox, a badger, an owl and a squirrel, was found by staff at the reserve last week. The totem pole also has the name Perkūnas carved on it, which is the name of a Baltic god of sky, thunder and lightning.
The trust said it was “amazed” and “impressed” by the “stunning” and “detailed” artwork, but had no clue who was behind it. The trust posted a photo of the totem pole on its Facebook page, asking for anyone with information to come forward.
“We would love to thank them for making our day and find out more about their motivation,” the trust wrote. The post has received hundreds of likes and comments, with many people admiring the talent and originality of the unknown artist. Some also suggested possible names for the totem pole, such as “The Capel Crew” or “The Four Friends”.
The nature reserve, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including butterflies, orchids and birds of prey, is open to the public for free. The trust said it hoped the totem pole would attract more visitors and raise awareness of the importance of protecting natural habitats. “We are always grateful for any donations or support from the local community,” the trust said. “But this is a very special and unexpected gift that we really appreciate.”
However, there is one catch: the trust needs to get retrospective planning permission from the local council to keep the totem pole on the reserve. The council has given the trust eight weeks to submit the application, and it would be great to track down the person behind Perkūnas to get some more details. The planning application will also cost money to the trust, so if anyone would like to make a donation to help fund the process, it would be very welcome.
The totem pole is situated a few miles from where some red-billed choughs have been released as part of a reintroduction project between Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust, supported by Paradise Park Cornwall.
The conservationists have seen the new installations as a good sign as, according to mythology, Perkūnas is the god of sky, thunder and lightning, and it is hoped he may perhaps bring some calmer weather while the birds are getting used to being out in the open.
The Capel-Le -Ferne Nature Reserve was purchased by Kent Wildlife Trust in order to protect a section of the amazing white chalk cliffs. The cliffs are used by nesting seabirds and patrolled by peregrine falcons, and they are expected to provide the perfect habitat for the new population of red-billed chough.
To make a donation to Kent Wildlife Trust visit: www.kentwildlife.org.uk/support