SEX BOMB? NO, POLLEN BOMB!

It is a tough year for hay fever suffers with the experts warning of “very high” levels of pollen over the next few weeks in what they are describing as a “pollen bomb”.

Last winter ran on for so long that the early spring flowering plants blossomed at the same time as late spring flowers, which is known as a “condensed spring”. Tree pollen was also late this year and so this month sees an accumulation of tree pollen, plant pollen and grass pollen (which is responsible for 95% of hay fever symptoms), resulting in an increase in hay fever and in worst cases, asthma attacks.

Dad used to explain it more simply, “Plants want to go to seed as quickly as possible, a cold winter means that they have less time to do that and, as most gardeners will have experienced the last month, results in plants and grass growing as though they are on steroids!”

He taught us that nature always catches up, and if you don’t believe me try sowing a succession of pea seeds and watch them all come to harvest at the same time!

The recent sunny spells and heavy rain showers have added to the urgent plant growth, exacerbating the pollen further and the pollen count or pollen bomb is predicted to last for several weeks, with Wales being one of the worst hit areas.

I am incredibly lucky not to suffer from hay fever but did have a tricky couple of days after backing into a pollen laden pine whilst mowing last week – I was literally enveloped in a cloud of pollen and can see where the pollen bomb analogy came from.