Thought this might help people identify which pollens and when they are affecting us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The pollen calendar
Your species guide to the main periods of pollen release
Pollen and spores from many types of plant can trigger the allergic reactions of hayfever. The typical symptoms are frequent sneezing, runny nose and eyes, itchy eyes and mouth, and perhaps headache, earache and blocked nose.
People tend to think that hayfever occurs in peak summer months but for some sufferers hayfever starts as early as January and lasts through to the autumn. Sometimes people do not realise that their symptoms are caused by pollen. Each year the pollen and spore seasons follow the same general pattern. If you find that you get symptoms seasonally they could be due to pollen or spores. It is useful to compare when the symptoms appear with the times that the different pollen and spores are in the air.
In the last few years the weather in the United Kingdom has been much warmer than the long term average so the flowering times for many plants have altered. For example, Birch trees have flowered several weeks earlier in the last few years than they did several decades ago. This calendar gives you up to date information based on the pollen monitoring records over recent years from the sites of the National Pollen Network.
The Grass Pollen Forecast is sponsored by Zirtek, and is available from pollenforecast.org from mid-May to the end of July. All their other information is available throughout the year.
March
Widespread tree releasing its pollen, often in large quantities, in February and early March
Poplar pollen is present in the air in mid-March mainly in small amounts, in Southern and central England.
Elm pollen is released in England and Wales this month but not until April in Scotland.
Large quantities of yew pollen become airborne but it is less allergenic than many other types. Released in April in Scotland.
April May
Widespread tree releasing pollen in large amounts from late March until early April in England and Wales, later in Scotland.
Pollen release starts late April or May in the south and about three weeks later in the North. High counts of oak pollen are often recorded.
Planted mainly in urban areas, high pollen counts occur in London, particularly. Largely absent from Scotland.
A local problem as horse chestnut pollen counts can be very high close to the trees.
April is the main month but ash pollen is sometimes released during march in England and Wales.
Only low amounts of pollen get airborne. However pollen and volatiles can be a problem close to the crop. Flowers April to June.
Usually present in small amounts, this pollen is around from mid-March through to May in the North of Britain.
Mainly occurring in England. Counts can be high close to the trees. Flowers in April in some years.
June July
June is usually the worst month for hayfever sufferers in England and Wales. Pollen counts are high on warm dry days.
July is the worst month for all hayfever sufferers in Scotland, while the later flowering grass species can give high pollen counts in England and Wales.
Counts are usually low but the pollen is released throughout the summer in all regions.
The small pollen grains are often releases in large amounts from late June to mid-August in all regions.
Scotland has the highest counts, elsewhere the pollen is released earlier but in lower amounts.
These trees are mainly found in England. pollen counts can be high close to the trees.
Not a widespread tree. Pollen counts can be high close to the trees. Flowers during July in Scotland.
Low pollen counts all summer, peaking this month. Occurs in all regions.
