Flora and fauna of Wales put at risk by hobbyists Harry Potter? Residents of the Pembrokeshire, Wales, town are asking fans of the literary saga to stop putting socks on Freshwater Beach, where a monument to the Dobby character has been erected, reports the New York Times.
An emblematic figure in the JK Rowling universe, the elf Dobby dies on this beach in a key scene in the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2011). Since then, fans have dropped socks there in tribute to the character. In the novels, giving a goblin a sock frees it.
Only photos
But for Pembrokeshires, this gesture defaces the place and discourages tourists from going there. For several months, the authorities thought about destroying the memorial, before finally deciding to keep it, while prohibiting the famous socks from being placed there:
“The Dobby memorial will be allowed to remain as it is for fans to enjoy,” The National Trust Wales said in a statement. “We only ask visitors to only take photos of the monument to protect the landscape.”
The delicate nature of the beach.
In a study carried out to estimate the dangers of the installation, cited by the New York TimesNational Trust Wales detailed its request, arguing that “items such as socks, jewelery and paint chips from painted pebbles could […] endanger the fauna and flora.
“Although we are very happy to receive so many visitors, we must be careful that the popularity of the site does not impact the delicate nature of the beach and the environment, and be careful of the consequences that this may have on local roads and infrastructure. ,” concluded Jonathan Hughes of the National Trust Wales.
Source: BFM TV
