‘Harry Potter’ fans urged to stop leaving socks at Dobby’s grave on Wales beach
Fans of “Harry Potter” are being asked by environmental officials to stop leaving socks at Dobby’s “grave” in an effort to protect a beach in Wales.
Since the “grave” appeared in 2010’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” it has become a real-life attraction for fans — and a problem for residents in the area, People reported.
In the film, Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe) manages to free the house elf from his vile owners by giving him a sock. Later in the franchise’s seventh installment, Dobby manages to save Harry and his friends, transporting them to Freshwater West Beach only to die moments later.
According to officials — who said the ever-mounting gifts have been an issue for the last 10 years — the socks and other small mementos pose a risk to the area’s wildlife.
“Items like socks, trinkets and paint chips from painted pebbles could enter the marine environment and food chain and put wildlife at risk,” the National Trust Cymru, a UK conservation charity, said in a statement.
“The Trust is asking visitors to only take photos when visiting the memorial to help protect the wider landscape.”
Back in May, the National Trust released a survey about possibly moving the site to a different location to preserve the beach’s infrastructure.
“Over the past few years we have seen an increase in visitors wanting to experience all that Freshwater West has to offer, including its beautiful beach,” read the statement.
“We love welcoming people to the site, but the increase in numbers does mean its facilities and infrastructure are under even more pressure. We want visitors to have an enjoyable, safe experience while ensuring this special landscape is looked after for future generations.”
The National Trust said the purpose of the survey would be to “relocate the memorial to a suitable publicly accessible location.”
As of now, the memorial remains open to the public “for people to enjoy,” according to officials.
