Where does the pollen come from in the Wansbeck valley?
Morpeth sits in a loop of the River Wansbeck with farmland on almost every side. Riverside trees, parks, private gardens and open fields mean that pollen reaches the town from several directions as the year moves on, and the main trigger changes with the seasons.
Riverside trees along the Wansbeck
Alder, willow and birch grow along the river and in gardens across Morpeth. Alder can release pollen as early as February, and birch peaks in April and May. If your symptoms begin while the evenings are still dark, tree pollen is the most likely explanation.
Parks, playing fields and surrounding farmland
The lawns of Carlisle Park, the town's sports pitches and the grazing land and hay fields beyond the town all produce grass pollen from late May into July. Weed pollens such as nettle and dock can keep symptoms going into late summer, which is why some people find their season drags on far longer than expected.
Is hay fever affecting your commute?
Plenty of people travel out of Morpeth each day, by train on the East Coast Main Line or by car on the A1. Pollen finds its way into cars through open windows and air vents, so keeping windows closed on high-pollen days and having the pollen filter checked at each service both help. Wraparound sunglasses make a difference on a breezy platform too.
Drowsiness is the bigger concern for drivers. Some older antihistamines can affect alertness, and that matters on a busy dual carriageway. When you have a consultation, the prescriber takes your driving and working day into account and explains which options are suitable.
Help for Morpeth residents when chemist remedies stop working
Pharmacy tablets and sprays help a lot of people, and they are a sensible first step for mild symptoms. It is worth getting specialist advice if any of the following sound familiar:
- Your symptoms last for weeks despite daily antihistamines
- A blocked nose is ruining your sleep
- Your asthma gets worse when the pollen count rises
- You have never found out which pollen causes your symptoms
Hay Fever Treatment offers a one-to-one hay fever consultation as the usual starting point. Depending on your symptoms, this may lead to allergy testing, a prescription treatment review, an immunotherapy assessment for severe grass or tree pollen allergy, or a hay fever injection assessment where standard treatment has failed. Every prescription decision is made by a qualified prescriber after a full consultation.