If you didnt get any email or pop up warning/suspension, i think you only got nomination rejection.
Given everything, in your position I might try once more, making sure I do the following:
- Take the photo from slightly further back. This might prevent anyone thinking it’s AI.
- Include the word ‘trail’ in the title. It is a trail and this is something you want to emphasise.
- Include a link to the address the QR code takes you to, so people can see that it’s a real thing.
- Include one more link to anything online that states (or at least implies) that it is here to stay.
If that fails, I’d walk away.
Although as a worse case scenario, you could consider returning to it at some point next year, because if the markers are still in place and continues to be promoted by the council, that would help to demonstrate that the trail has longevity and is intended to be permanent.