Danielle Conroy's palm has exactly the same 'nest'

by Jamie Stephens

A botanist has reassured locals that Thanet is not about to be overrun by triffids, giant spiders or plant-loving aliens.

Three weeks ago we ran the story of a mysterious 2ft tall 'nest’ that had appeared in a palm tree in a Birchington garden which had the homeowner and experts baffled.

The article sparked lots of interest, including from as far away as Basildon, as well as a number of theories as to what was inside.

Then another reader contacted us to say she had spotted something similiar in her garden

Danielle Conroy, 23, from Broadstairs, explained: “I didn't really think much about it until I read the article and I thought 'I’m sure I’ve seen something like that before’.

"Then I looked out into the garden and saw I had one as well.

“We planted it ourselves along with three others around three years ago.

"What’s strange is that this is the only one that this has happened to - the only three are completely untouched. We’ve never seen it do this before.

“It looks utterly bizarre. Part of me was really excited to be part of a mystery but another part was a bit nervous as to what was inside. It definitely looks like a nest for something.”

In both cases the top of the plant was tightly bound with its own leaves.

These had been carefully shredded and wrapped round the rest of the plant in intricate patterns, forming a cocoon shape secured with some kind of secretion.

Theories abounded as to what was causing it, from spiders to birds to termites, but despite showing photos to experts at Howletts, Wingham Bird Park and Kew Gardens no one had an idea as to what the nests actually were.

That was until we contacted a spider expert at the Natural History Mueseum who, again at a loss to the cause, put us in touch with Fred Rumsey - a botanist with the Identification Service at the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity.

Mr Rumsey said: “I’m afraid that the answer is very prosaic and doesn’t involve large spiders, or indeed any form of animal. Whilst what is happening is unusual, it is not uncommon in Cordylines.”

“What we’re seeing in both cases is new growth emerging through the fibrous remains of some of the older leaves which for various possible reasons haven’t spread out of the way.

Read our first 'mystery nest' story here

"These plants are rather tender and the growth can be damaged by frost, causing them to become rather trashed, fibrous and if they die early at the tips, stuck together.

"As the new healthier growth starts it pushes through this and obviously as it gets larger gets more tightly bound up, leading to the intricate netlike patterns you can see.”

So finally we have an answer, albeit a slightly less interesting one than some of the causes that have been suggested before.

That is unless Mr Rumsey is just a front for a mysterious new tree-living breed planning to take over the Island one palm at a time.