Plans for a significant power line project have been altered following a successful campaign by Harry Potter fans concerned about the potential impact on Dobby's grave. The memorial, situated on a beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, marks the burial site of the fictional house-elf as depicted in the Harry Potter films. This location draws hundreds of fans annually, who leave tributes such as painted stones and other items.
The £430 million ($580 million) Greenlink interconnector, an undersea power cable intended to connect the UK mainland with Ireland, originally threatened to pass through the site. The opposition to the project's initial route reportedly escalated into a public relations challenge after the potential disruption was highlighted via a podcast, leading to a surge in public inquiries.
"I said 'he's a fictitious character in a fictitious book, the whole thing is fictitious what are you talking about?'," project manager Simon Ludlam recounted his initial reaction, before understanding the depth of public sentiment. "A lot of people were very happy about that, and the project is now going [ahead] and Dobby's happy," Ludlam stated after the route was adjusted.
The Greenlink interconnector has now been successfully re-routed, ensuring the preservation of Dobby's memorial. Interestingly, archaeological excavations conducted along the revised route uncovered evidence of Bronze Age activity, potentially linked to real burials dating back up to 4,000 years. "Actually we went quite close to some real Bronze Age remains, but we avoided Dobby's grave," Ludlam added.
Tributes left at the site often include messages such as "Dobby you are free now," and "Dobby lives in our hearts and our socks." The National Trust, which manages the land, has previously requested that visitors refrain from leaving socks due to the area's environmental significance.
The site's security may also see it considered for Dobby's grave in the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter television series reboot, though filming for such scenes is not anticipated for another decade.