Rampant Ragwort

Sir, During a week’s holiday in Arran this September, I was unusually sneezing, constantly runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. Hay fever symptoms, but late for me, as I normally only have hay fever in the grass pollen season.

Then a possible reason occurred to me. The island was absolutely awash with flowering ragwort. Could this be the culprit?

Back home, the symptoms subsided and disappeared. A quick Google confirmed that September is the month when many allergy sufferers are affected by a ragwort allergy with symptoms similar to my own. I write this only to perhaps alert other similar sufferers.

Arran is very noticeably covered in ragwort, more so than most places I would suggest, so the usual precautions should be taken to avoid breathing in its pollen.

Peter Rees Shrewsbury