Pollen Count in Nottingham Today

Nottingham - the heart of England and the city that turned a man in green tights into an icon.

It would be impossible to talk about Nottingham without addressing its most famous, and elusive occupant, Robin Hood. At the centre of all the legendary tales of the renowned folk hero, is Sherwood Forest and Nottingham. It is no wonder that the champion of the poor is so heavily featured throughout the city, even getting an airport named in his honour.

We should also start by mentioning trees. Unfortunately to hayfever sufferers, they’re basically everywhere. Nottingham is surrounded by parks, woodlands and nature reserves making trees a big pollen offender in this area. The city is also located inland as well, meaning that taking refuge at the beach simply isn’t an option.

However, there are a number of attractions in the city that might offer some relief and entertainment, away from aggravating tree species.

Nottingham and its surrounding areas are home to a varied and diverse range of trees but the most common pollen fiend is arguably the oak.

Woodland areas like Sherwood Forest and Bestwood Country Park are rife with oak trees, and they are even distinguished as popular tourist attractions. After oak, comes the notorious birch tree, followed by lime.

The peak season for pollination for these trees might be drawing to a close by August, but this is no guarantee as there is no definitive time for any one tree to stop pollinating so it is best to stay safe and take precautions when venturing outside.

Although we have mentioned the prevalence of trees in Nottingham, there are some areas and destinations that are worse than others. Complied below are a few of the most risky spots for hayfever sufferers due to their high volume of pollen allergens.

• Wollaton Hall: Wollaton Hall is a stunning and grandiose Elizabethan mansion, constructed by Queen Elizabeth I’s architect, Robert Smythson and commissioned for Sir Francis Willoughby, a Tudor courtier. The Hall is now home to the Nottingham Natural History Museum, the Nottingham Industrial Museum and the Wallaton Botanic gardens, containing the oldest iron glasshouse in Europe. Sprawling across the picturesque parks and gardens are a diverse variety of tree species, such as hazel, walnut, oak, beech, cedar, rowan, lime and sycamore. This makes it a particularly potent place if you suffer from hayfever, especially during the summer months so if you plan on visiting, why not explore inside the mansion instead of subjecting yourself to the gardens
• Victoria Embankment: Nestled next to the River Trent, the Victoria Embankment was opened to the public in 1901 and now contains an assortment of sporting facilities, paddling pools and gardens. Idyllic and beautiful in the summer, don’t be fooled by this park’s pretty exterior. London Plane and silver birch grow rampant along the banks of the river, beside other specimens of oak, elm, sycamore and maple 
• Arboretum: The Arboretum is Nottingham’s oldest park and the host to the Nottingham Pride Festival. It was opened in 1852 and has been rumoured to have been the inspiration for J.M Barrie's Peter Pan, as the writer was known to frequent the park quite often whilst he was living in the city. There are a number of walking trails recommended to the public so they can enjoy the full landscape of the park; however this also includes a tree trail that might appear like a dangerous-suspect list to a hayfever sufferer. The Arboretum is renowned for housing over 1000 tree and shrub species including maple, elm, oak, beech and London Plane
• Bestwood Country Park: Bestwood Country Park covers 650 acres and used to be a part of the famous Sherwood Forest.  It now contains the Winding Engine House, a vestige of the Victorian coal industry and a popular attraction with many tourists. The park is also favoured by cyclists and horse riders, and there are many trails established for both parties to help them get the most out of the woodland area. Oaks are the main hayfever trigger in this place, although both grass and weed pollen can also be blamed for a flare-up of hayfever symptoms
• Sherwood Forest: The most famous landmark in Nottinghamshire is undoubtedly Sherwood Forest, the legendary home of the mythical outlaw, Robin Hood. Originally, before the fables about the Merry Men, the forest functioned as a hunting ground for the nobility and gentry of the time, including the royal family. Before that, in the Dark Ages, it was known as ‘Birklands’ to the Vikings or ‘birch lands’ due to the high population of birch trees. Nowadays, the woodland is popular with tourists and acts as a nature reserve, covering 250 acres of land. As one would expect, it hosts the annual Robin Hood Festival and is renowned for its celebrated ‘Major Oak tree’ an enormous oak that has won the ‘Tree of the Year’ award several times.

Nottingham might seem like a difficult city to inhabit if you suffer from hayfever, however there are a number of pollen-free activities you can participate in as the city is rich with bars, theatres, museums and other cultural attractions.

Here are just a few ideas about what you could do.

• The National Civil War Centre: Located in Newark, a 40 minute drive outside of Nottingham, the Civil War Museum explores one of the most turbulent periods in English history, which pitted the parliament against the crown – the English Civil War. There are a number of fun and interactive activities available during the summer months, including ‘Meet a musketeer’ and ‘Siege spies.’ A great day out for the family, admission is just £3.50 for children under the age of 16
• The Nottingham Playhouse: The Nottingham Playhouse is one of the premier theatres in the city, hosting exhibitions like ‘Dinosaur Zoo’ as well as a variety of comedy shows, plays and musical performances. Ticket prices will vary depending on what you want to see but with such a diverse range of spectacles available, there’s bound to be something for everyone
• Bromley House Library: Bromley House Library is home to over 40,000 books and was opened in 1816, making it one of the oldest libraries in the city. It hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, dedicated to important artists, writers and performers. A great place to visit if you fancy a comfy chair, a good book and a few hours of away from the hustle and bustle of the city
• The National Video Game Arcade: Something for the gamer in you, this arcade is a mecca for video games, giving you the chance to design and star in your own game, learn how the old classics were created and even take part in a Minecraft marathon. If you are especially lucky, you might even get exclusive access to unfinished products that haven’t even hit the market yet! Tickets are £8.50 for adults and £6.50 for children  
• The Theatre Royal Concert Hall: The Theatre Royal Concert Hall is perhaps the biggest and most popular theatre in Nottingham, hosting famous musicals like ‘Chicago’ and ‘Sister Act’, concerts for stars like opera singer Catherine Jenkins and even lectures by scientists like Professor Brian Cox. There is so much to choose from that you’re guaranteed a great night out whatever you opt for.

If you’ve tried your best but have to admit defeat to your hayfever symptoms then you’ll be relieved to hear that there are a number of A.Vogel stockists in the Nottingham city area. Most of our hayfever products, like Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets and Luffa Nasal Spray, are available in high street stores like Holland and Barrett.

However, there is another stockist located near the Theatre Royal Concert Hall on King’s Walk, the Little London Herbal Store. You could also try the Carrington Pharmacy on Mansfield Road or Roots Natural Foods which is also on Mansfield Road, closer to Woodthorpe Grange Park.

Looking for relief of red and itchy eyes due to hayfever?

A.Vogel Pollinosan Hayfever Eye Drops contain hyaluronic acid (from vegetable source) and can be used for quick relief of red and itchy eyes due to hayfever. Suitable for contact lense users.

To find local independent stores in your area that sell A.Vogel Pollinosan Hayfever Eye drops, simply type your postcode below.