Artist is happy with fuss over ‘toilet plunger’

An 18ft high oak monument erected in the grounds of a historic castle looks like a toilet plunger, the artist behind it has admitted. The Tree Charter Champion Pole was unveiled at Lincoln Castle to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest.

The 6.5-ton sculpture, one of 11 created by artist Simon Clements, 57, features a long oak “handle” and a concrete plinth.

“I have heard one or two people call it a ‘toilet plunger’, which is something that makes me chuckle,” he said. “I really don’t mind it or find it disrespectful at all.

“It’s good that people have something to remember it by.”