Parts of England are experiencing high and very high pollen counts this summer, according to the Met Office, with grass pollen identified as the main culprit.
The forecaster’s warning comes as an estimated quarter of UK adults and up to 15 per cent of children live with hay fever, a condition that can significantly disrupt daily life during the warmer months.
With counts elevated, health experts are urging sufferers to rethink their daily routines, from the time they exercise outdoors to how often they wash their bedding.
When pollen is worst
According to Owena Cleary, Director of CPR First Aid Training, pollen tends to build steadily throughout the day and reach its peak as temperatures fall in the early evening. This makes parks, playing fields and other open grassy areas particularly risky at that time, and anyone hoping to exercise outdoors is advised to do so around the middle of the day instead, when pollen counts typically dip.
Mornings are not much safer. A stretch of warm, still weather followed by a breezy afternoon can carry large amounts of pollen into gardens and parks, and sufferers are advised to keep windows shut until counts fall. Dry spells make matters worse, allowing pollen to accumulate in the air rather than being washed away by rain, while windy conditions can carry pollen further and keep it airborne for longer than many people realise.
Recognising the symptoms
Hay fever symptoms range from itchy, watering eyes and a runny nose to sneezing, sore throats and headaches. They arise because the immune system mistakes pollen for a threat and releases histamine, triggering swelling in the nose and eyes as the body attempts to block the allergen. Because the severity and type of symptoms can depend on which pollens a person is sensitive to, as well as the time of year, time of day and weather conditions, hay fever can feel unpredictable and difficult to manage.
Plants to avoid
Birch, oak and ash trees are among the biggest pollen producers in the UK each summer, alongside ryegrass and timothy grass, which can pose problems for gardeners. Fresh or dried flowers — particularly sunflowers, daisies and lilies — are best kept out of bedrooms during peak pollen months. Lavender, geraniums and roses are suggested as lower-pollen alternatives for gardens, as they are pollinated by insects rather than the wind.
The importance of washing routines
Pollen clings to hair and clothing until it is washed off, and experts recommend washing hair every evening during peak weeks. Clothes worn outdoors should be laundered promptly, and bedding should be stripped and washed on a hot cycle at least once a week.
Drying laundry outdoors on high-pollen days is discouraged, as fabric left on the line collects pollen that is then brought back indoors — a habit Cleary describes as one of the most common mistakes people make, even though it can be tempting during warm weather.
Cars are often overlooked as a source of pollen exposure. Regularly wiping down the interior and fitting a proper pollen filter can make journeys more comfortable for allergy sufferers.
What treatments help
Antihistamines remain a first-line treatment, working by blocking the histamine responsible for sneezing and itching, and are most effective when taken ahead of pollen exposure. Steroid nasal sprays can help those whose main symptom is a blocked nose, while eye drops may ease redness and burning. Many sufferers find relief comes from combining two or three treatments that target different symptoms, rather than relying on a single product.
Cleary advises that anyone whose symptoms are worsening or not responding to over-the-counter treatments should see their GP, noting that hay fever should not be allowed to seriously disrupt daily life.
Do natural remedies work?
Steam inhalation — breathing over a bowl of hot water under a towel — is a long-standing home remedy that may ease congestion in the short term, though it does not address the underlying allergy. Saline rinses work in a similar way, helping to flush pollen from the nose and thin mucus.
The Met Office publishes a daily pollen forecast, and sufferers are encouraged to check it regularly to plan ahead and limit their exposure. With a few adjustments to daily habits, experts say those affected by hay fever can reduce their symptoms and get more enjoyment out of the summer months.
Here’s a top ten list for keeping hay fever symptoms under control:
- Check the daily pollen forecast – The Met Office publishes counts each day, so you can plan outdoor activities around lower-risk times.
- Exercise or go outside around midday – Pollen peaks in the early evening as the air cools, so late morning to early afternoon tends to be safer.
- Keep windows shut in the morning and evening – These are the times pollen is most likely to drift indoors, especially after a warm, still spell.
- Wash your hair every evening – Pollen collects in hair throughout the day and can transfer to your pillow overnight if left unwashed.
- Change clothes and shower after being outside – Pollen clings to fabric and skin, so getting out of “outdoor clothes” quickly limits how much you carry through the house.
- Wash bedding weekly on a hot cycle – This clears out any pollen that’s built up and helps you sleep more easily.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors on high-pollen days – Clothes and sheets on the line act like a pollen magnet and bring it straight back indoors.
- Keep cut flowers and pollen-heavy plants out of bedrooms – Sunflowers, daisies, and lilies are worth avoiding; lavender, geraniums, and roses are lower-pollen, insect-pollinated alternatives for the garden.
- Clean your car interior and fit a pollen filter – Cars trap pollen easily, and this is one of the most overlooked sources of daily exposure.
- Use a combination of treatments – Antihistamines (taken ahead of exposure), a steroid nasal spray for congestion, and eye drops for irritation often work better together than relying on just one. See a GP if symptoms persist despite this.
