This summer has been the worst ever for many hay fever sufferers in the UK. Hit with consecutive days of very high pollen counts and “pollen bombs”, one in four adults have been greeted with a runny nose, itchy eyes or sneezing fits during the warm weather. According to Met Office research, next summer will be no better, with longer hay fever seasons occurring thanks to the climate crisis. On top of that, those living in polluted urban areas can experience even worse symptoms.
Treatments to combat these increasingly prevalent allergies vary from antihistamine tablets to wearing wraparound glasses. As a lifelong hay fever sufferer, I have experimented with almost every solution available, but haven’t found lasting respite. An air filter chugs away in my bedroom at night and I take the most powerful antihistamines doctors can prescribe, but a picnic would still be a snotty nightmare.
