Compared to previous years, this spring and summer have so far been one of the most challenging for hayfever sufferers. If your eyes and nose have been runny, you’re not alone. This has been reported by many of the patients I have seen in the past two months and I also agree that 2025 is shaping up to be one of the toughest UK hay fever seasons on record.
The long periods of sunshine, heat, and dry conditions this year have super charged the production of pollen. The NHS even reported a doubling of visitors to their hayfever page!
But why is that?
What are the factors contributing to a severe hayfever season?
Warmer weather = More pollen
The weather has started warming up much earlier this year. This allowed plants to flower earlier and for longer. We may in the future see the pollen seasons move even earlier in the year and perhaps get extended into late autumn as well.
According to The Guardian, scientists have already started documenting a global trend towards longer, more intense pollen seasons. This phenomenon is driven by increased CO₂ and higher temperatures.
April 2025 was the sunniest UK April on record EVER and England and Wales saw their second warmest spring so far.
To make matters worse, trees operate on an “on‑off” cycle; 2025 is a natural “high” year, and Sky News reported that last summer’s warm, dry spell set the buds for an even bigger release this year.
Increased pollution
Fine particulates from traffic and industry bind to pollen grains, making them more allergenic and helping them to penetrate deeper into the lungs.
This phenomenon makes it harder on people living in urban areas, especially close to the city centres of Bournemouth and London.
Huge hayfever impact on everyone
For the first time, I saw adults with no previous history of allergies reporting that they had some of the typical hayfever symptoms, sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes.
We know that hayfever already affects about a quarter of all UK adults, but up to about half may report hayfever symptoms on peak pollen days. Here we are talking about the high/ very high pollen days, of which we had a few earlier this year in May.
School absence, reduced workplace productivity and disturbed sleep are all on the rise, and many of our patients report significant anxiety about symptom control while traveling or socialising.
So what can we do about it?
Well, I feel that the worst has past for the current year, but here are some tips you can still apply to yourself and your family.
Immunotherapy for Hayfever
If you’re thinking about doing something to help your symptoms next year, then immunotherapy for hayfever is a brilliant option. The treatment consists of allergen sublingual tablets or drops that you need to take before the next season of pollen allergies commence. Ideally, you would start the treatment in autumn this year and carry on for three years. The way it works is that by taking the allergen extract daily, your body will become used to it, so when you are finally exposed to pollen in the air, the reaction will be much milder.
Quick-reference UK pollen calendar for 2025
Pollen type | Expected peak* | Key symptoms | When to start preventive treatment | How Holistic Allergy can help |
Birch, alder, hazel (trees) | late Mar – late Apr | Itchy eyes, early‑season sneezing | mid‑March | Skin‑prick & IgE blood testing; pre‑season immunotherapy |
Oak & plane (trees) | late Apr – mid‑May | Sinus congestion, runny nose | early April | Tailored medication plan |
Grasses (ryegrass, timothy) | late May – Aug | Blocked nose, night‑time cough | early May | Sublingual/SCIT grass immunotherapy started the year before or at least 3 months before |
Nettle, mugwort (weeds) | Jul – Sep | Wheeze, late‑season sneezes | late June | Weed‑panel testing |
Ragweed (invasive) | Aug – Oct** | Severe rhinitis, asthma flares | mid‑July | Ragweed‑specific IgE and travel advice |
Managing Hay Fever Symptoms: Tips and Solutions
Although we are out of the woods with most tree pollens, the ongoing grass pollen season and the upcoming ragweed pollen can still cause problems. I’ve compiled a few tips you can start applying to your day:
- Track the pollen count forecast: This can help you plan your week, weekend and choose the best days for outdoor activities. Even a 1-2 change in the pollen forecast severity can make a huge difference to your symptoms.
- Optimise medication: If you already take antihistamine tablets, you may consider adding a nasal spray as well. Saline nasal rinses may also help wash out pollen that got stuck during the day. If your main symptoms are around eye watering, then consider adding some hayfever eye drops.
- Minimise indoor exposure: Avoid airing your house late morning or afternoon, as that is when the pollen counts tend to be at their highest!
- You can also experiment with getting an air purifier with e HEPA filter. This can reduce the indoor aeroallergens in general, as well as the pollen particles that have managed to make their way indoors.
- If you were out, consider leaving your shoes and clothes outside of the bedroom, to minimise the pollen escaping in the air. Pollen particles can also get trapped on your skin and hair, so consider having a wash before getting in bed or if you notice your symptoms are flaring up while indoors.
For a more detailed action list, take a look at a post I previously wrote on allergy proofing your home against grass pollen in Dorset.
If you’ve tried everything to no avail, you can also get in touch with us as in some cases, there may be other medications or practices that we can recommend to ease your symptoms.
In conclusion, a mix of unprecedented factors has made this year one of the worst for pollen allergy sufferers. We are still in the middle of the grass pollen season, with ragweed just around the corner. Take a look at some of the allergy advice I have compiled on my website, and if you still feel that you’d benefit from specialist input, get in touch with us for a consultation!
