The sunny spells after weeks of rain are a double-edged sword to those with hay fever, as pollen counts have jolted upwards alongside rising temperatures. Tree pollen affects a quarter of those with hay fever and alder and yew pollen tends to disperse around this time of year, with alder pollen jumping up to 'very high' levels in the past 10 days, the Met Office said. the grass pollen - which affects most sufferers - starts in mid-May to July and could be stronger due to the mild weather. Scientists believe climate change has prompted some species like hazelnut trees to bloom earlier than usual and make pollen counts rise faster. Hay fever affects one in five people in the UK and comes in several types according to different types of pollen.

Source: Daily Mail February 26, 2026 01:15 UTC