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Wondering what the pollen count is today near you? Covering tree, grass and weed pollen, find out when they’re at their peak throughout the UK seasons
Summary
1Pollen count calendar
From tree to bee, check out our UK pollen count calendar to see how your hay fever might affect you from month to month over the next year.
2Common hay fever-causing pollens
In fact, there are actually around 30 different hay fever-causing pollen types overall, all produced by specific plants, trees, grasses and…
3Pollen count by month
Using this, you can find out at a glance which types of pollen are most common during specific months. If you know the types of pollen…
Ever frantically googled, ‘pollen count today near me’, in the hopes of seeing a low number?
We know the feeling all too well, and so do the other 20% of people in the UK who suffer from hay fever.1
When it feels like your life is controlled by pollen allergies, you’ll probably want to know which are the worst and best times of the year for hay fever so you can enjoy being outside without sniffling and sneezing all day.
That’s why we’re helping you to prepare in advance this year. From tree to bee, check out our UK pollen count calendar to see how your hay fever might affect you from month to month over the next year.
H&B Pollen calendar
Wondering what the pollen count is near you today?
Covering tree, grass and weed pollen, find out when they're at their peak in the UK, month by month.
What is a hay fever pollen allergy?
Firstly, it’s worth knowing what pollen actually is before we dive into the pollen count season by season.
Pollen is described as a mass of microspores in a seed plant. It looks like a fine powder to the human eye.1 Like we learnt in school, pollen is transported by bees, but also by wind, water and other insects too.2
Hay fever is a seasonal allergy to pollen. This is why the symptoms of hay fever tend to get worse as the pollen count gets higher at certain times of the year. These include sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy eyes, throat and mouth.1,3
Sometimes the signs of hayfever could be confused for a cold - so making sure you know what’s causing your symptoms could help you find relief faster.
Common hay fever-causing pollens
Wondering which types of hay fever are caused by which pollen types?
Well, most people tend to experience grass pollen hay fever, but some people are also allergic to tree pollen and weed pollen.4
In fact, there are actually around 30 different hay fever-causing pollen types overall, all produced by specific plants, trees, grasses and weeds.4 And it’s entirely possible to be allergic to some types of pollen and not others.
However, no matter the type of pollen, most people tend to experience a flare of hay fever symptoms when the pollen count in the air (the number of grains of pollen in one cubic metre of air) exceeds 50.1,4
Pollen count by month
We’ve created this handy guide to the UK’s pollen count, month by month. Using this, you can find out at a glance which types of pollen are most common during specific months – meaning that if you know the types of pollen you’re allergic to, you can plan your activities accordingly.
Keep reading to find out which types of pollen are most common for every month of the year and which months you need to watch out for.5,6,7
A few things to note:
- below, we’ve used the term ‘general release’ to talk about the period over which plants typically release pollen, and ‘peak pollen’ to describe when pollen counts are at their highest for each plant8,9
- the below guide is a generalised pollen count by month. The timing will differ depending on where you are in the country – from south to north and also west to east. Height above sea level even comes into it.5
- the exact timing and severity of the pollen seasons will differ from year to year, depending on all sorts of things, from the weather to biological factors5
It’s the beginning of spring, and this is when you might start experiencing some hay fever-related sniffles.4,6 But good news if grass pollen usually triggers your hay fever – as you might not have to reach for your antihistamines just yet.4,6,7
Peak pollen:5,6
- hazel – first half of the month
- willow – from mid-month to end of the month
- poplar – end of the month
- birch – very end of the month
- yew – majority of the month
- alder – all month long
- ash
- plane
- oil seed rape
We’re well into spring now, and it’s still majority hay fever tree pollen on the loose, including:
Peak pollen:5
- alder – very start of the month
- poplar – start of the month
- elm – first half of the month
- willow – first half of the month
- plane – end of the month
- oak – end of the month
- ash – majority of the month
- birch – all month long
- hazel
- yew
- pine
- oil seed rape
During May, we start to see a little more grass pollen appearing.9
Peak pollen:5
- birch – first half of the month
- plane – first half of the month
- pine – second half of the month
- oil seed rape – majority of the month
- oak – all month long
General release:5
- willow
- ash
- grass
- plantain
- nettle
- dock
Sunshine, good times and… sneezes? These types of pollen are knocking around during this month:
Peak pollen:5,
- oak – start of the month
- pine – first half of the month
- lime – end of the month
- plantain – majority of the month
- nettle – very end of the month
- dock – very end of the month
- grass – all month long
- oil seed rape – all month long
General release:5
- birch
- mugwort
As the weather gets warmer and the tree pollen hay fever symptoms start to filter out, in July we see a lot more pollen from weeds and grass.6,9
Peak pollen:5
- lime – start of the month
- plantain – start of the month
- mugwort – very end of the month
- dock – majority of the month
- grass – all month long
- nettle – all month long
General release:5
- pine
- oil seed rape
Thankfully, by August there are only a few types of pollen still circulating:
Peak pollen:5
- nettle – first half of the month
- mugwort – first half of the month
General release:5
- grass pollen
- plantain
- dock
When the leaves start to turn and you’re met with vibrant orange hues, hay fever season is well and truly on its way out.
However, while there are no peak pollen culprits at this time of year, there are still a few pesky types in the air to know about:
General release:5
- grass – start of the month
- mugwort – start of the month
- nettle – majority of the month
As autumn moves into winter, the pollen count is at its lowest. So you don’t have to worry about stocking up on hay fever relief products during these months – hurrah!
When it’s icy out you may not think that pollen could be an issue, but it’s worth noting that the trees start to get to work on producing pollen as early as January.5,6 That’s right – winter hay fever is a thing.
In fact, recent research suggests that our changing climate could see some types of pollen released earlier in the year.6,11 With increasing temperatures, oak and grass pollen seasons may start even earlier – meaning that some sufferers could begin to experience hay fever and other reactions as early as January or February.6,11,13
General release:5
- alder – all month long
- hazel – second half of the month
- yew – second half of the month
It might still be icy outside, but in February, some tree pollen is already in peak season.
Peak pollen:5
- alder – all month long
- hazel – all month long
- yew – all month long
- elm
- willow
The final say
No matter the type of pollen you’re allergic to, we know that when it strikes, hay fever can be debilitating. So, if you want to find out more about how to manage your hay fever, take a look at our article on hay fever remedies.
And, if you’re looking for more immediate relief and pollen treatment for hay fever itching and sniffles, visit our allergy and hay fever range.
Some evidence has indicated that supplementing with certain vitamins and minerals may help support your body when it comes to peak pollen season.12 You can check out our range of vitamins and supplements here.
For now, we hope we’ve cleared up some of your questions about pollen and hay fever. But if your symptoms are particularly severe and impact your ability to live your life, you should speak to your GP to get some tailored advice.4
The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
- NHS Inform. Hay fever [Internet]. [Cited 2024 Mar 15]. Available from: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/immune-system/hay-fever/
- Pertl-Obermeyer H, Lackner P, John W.C. Dunlop, Obermeyer G. The Pollen Plasma Membrane Permeome Converts Transmembrane Ion Transport Into Speed. Advances in botanical research [Internet]. 2018 Jan 1 [cited 2024 Jun 11];215–65. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0065229618300521
- NHS. Hay fever [Internet]. [Cited 2024 Mar 15]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/
- Met Office. Pollen Allergies [Internet]. [Cited 2024 Mar 15]. Available from: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/health-wellbeing/pollen/pollen-allergies
- University of Worcester. Pollen calendars by area [Internet]. [Cited 2024 Mar 15]. Available from: https://www.worcester.ac.uk/about/academic-schools/school-of-science-and-the-environment/science-and-the-environment-research/national-pollen-and-aerobiology-research-unit/pollen-calendar.aspx
- UK Health Security Agency. Is hay fever season starting earlier in the UK, with the pollen count rising? [Internet]. [Cited 2024 Mar 15]. Available from: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/23/will-climate-change-make-the-effects-of-pollen-worse/
- Pollen season Pollen peak [Internet]. Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/pollen-calendar
- Timerman D, Spencer. Comparative analysis of pollen release biomechanics inThalictrum: implications for evolutionary transitions between animal and wind pollination. New Phytologist. 2019 Jul 11;224(3):1121–32.
- Office M. When is hay fever season in the UK? [Internet]. Met Office. Met Office; 2019 [cited 2024 Jun 11]. Available from: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/health-wellbeing/pollen/when-is-hayfever-season
- Eggen B. Is hay fever season starting earlier in the UK, with the pollen count rising? – UK Health Security Agency [Internet]. Blog.gov.uk. 2024 [cited 2024 Jun 11]. Available from: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/23/will-climate-change-make-the-effects-of-pollen-worse/
- Lam HCY, et al. Association between ambient temperature and common allergenic pollen and fungal spores: A 52-year analysis in central England, United Kingdom. Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jan 1;906:167607. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167607. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167607
- Pellow J, et al. ‘Health supplements for allergic rhinitis: A mixed-methods systematic review.’ Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2020;51:102425. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102425
- Changing climate brings impacts for hay fever sufferers [Internet]. Official blog of the Met Office news team. Official blog of the Met Office news team; 2023 [cited 2024 Jun 11]. Available from: https://blog.metoffice.gov.uk/2023/01/13/changing-climate-brings-impacts-for-hay-fever-sufferers/
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