Animal experts are being asked to solve a baffling garden mystery in Birchington.

A strange, 2ft tall nest has appeared in a palm tree in Paul Thompson's garden in Stone Barn Avenue and no-one seems to know what made it.

Mr Thompson spotted the odd-shaped nest in his Torbay Palm two weeks ago.

He said: "We've had the palm for a few years but have never seen anything like this before.

"It's 8ft off the ground and the leaves appear to have been tied together in a really intricate pattern.

"They are very tough leaves but appear to have been shredded to make them easier to tie together.

"The oddest thing is that there is no obvious entrance or exit."

Mr Thompson has shown pictures of the nest to experts at Howletts and Wingham Bird Park but no-one could identify the builder.

He said: "They were just as baffled as I am. I don't want to disturb whatever's in there but I am fascinated to find out what it could be."

KM Group photographer Paul Dennis, who took this picture said he was just as intrigued: "I've taken photos of all number of strange things over the years but have never seen anything like this.

"Whatever it is, it's either hibernating or incubating..."

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