Our famous beach is being destroyed by fans of huge film franchise – tourists cover sand in rubbish… we’re fighting back
BEACH-lovers say their stretch of stunning sand in Wales has been ruined by Harry Potter nerds.
Elf character Dobby was "buried" in the dunes of Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire, in the 2010 Deathly Hallows sequel.
A vast shrine of painted stones and other tributes has since drawn thousands of Potter nuts who locals say trash the protected dunes.
Neil Butland, of Pembroke Dock, fumed: "I think the grave is an eyesore. It brings only plastic pollution, dune erosion, and traffic congestion.
“If you were to walk on to any other beach in the UK and dump a bag of old socks, and whatever other tat this mess contains, you would be fined.
“I’m all for bringing tourism to Pembrokeshire if it means putting money in local businesses’ pockets, but what is that monstrosity bringing to Freshwater West?"
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Among tributes are socks - which freed the gremlin in the film - as well as tea towels, dolls, gnomes, and laminated messages to the computer generated "house-elf".
Residents say the wizarding madness must stop and are demanding the National Trust clear up the fictional "grave", dug by Harry, Hermione and Ron in the film.
The beach is a legally protected conservation area home to a host of wildlife including lizards, orchids and rare ground-nesting birds.
Nicky Churchill, from nearby Goodwick, accused the National Trust of being "blasé" about the Hogwarts-inspired scourge.
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He added: "It’s as if the natural beauty and attractions of Pembrokeshire weren't enough.
"If you want Disneyland, go to Disneyland."
General Manager of National Trust Cymru, Rhian Sula, said the memorial to JK Rowling's beloved sprite is allowed to stay.
She said: “In the immediate term the memorial to Dobby will remain at Freshwater West for people to enjoy."
A consultation found 68 per cent of 3020 people surveyed voted to keep the grave - a stones throw from the Weasleys fictional Shell Cottage - compared to 20 per cent who voted to remove.
A spokesperson for Keep Wales Tidy said: “Don’t leave anything at all behind, whether it be commonly recognised litter like food packaging or less obvious litter like socks – our fellow visitors, nature and house elves will all be the better for it.”
