RESEARCHERS are appealing for North-East people to help carry out a survey into hayfever causes.
This spring, the Woodland Trust and the National Pollen Research Unit are asking people to record the early flowering grasses, such as Yorkshire fog, cocksfoot, meadow foxtail and Timothy grass, as part of a UK Phenology Network study.
The network has found that due to global warming, many grasses are flowering earlier and for longer, releasing hayfever-causing pollen for longer. It believes that sap allergens released by cut grass are adding to the problem.
Woodland Trust supporter and Met Office broadcaster Michael Fish said: "Like me, many more people will be condemned to longer bouts of sneezing, itchy eyes, head-aches and a throbbing nose.
"Information collected by amateur phenologists all over the UK will help to forecast the start of the pollen season."
A simple recording form is available from the Woodland Trust, on 0800 083 7497, or by logging on to:
www.phenology.org.uk
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