PEPA is now on the App StoreDownload free for iPhone →
PEPA

Knowledge Centre

Plain-English background on pollen, weather and allergies.

Calm, useful reading — no jargon and no scare stories. We're building this out over time; articles marked Coming soon are planned. This is general information, not medical advice.

Latest articles

11 published
Read

Why Your Hay Fever Is Worse on Some Days Than Others

Two similar days, wildly different symptoms? Warm dry breezy weather, the time of day, which pollen is in season and thunderstorms all change how hay fever feels — here's why, in plain English.

Read

Hay fever and exams: can pollen affect your grades?

Hay fever and exams: a UK study links pollen symptoms to dropping a GCSE grade. Why exam season peaks with pollen, plus calm ways to cope.

Read

Hay fever and itchy eyes: how to soothe them

Hay fever and itchy eyes go hand in hand. Why pollen makes eyes red, itchy and watery, gentle ways to soothe them, and when to ask a pharmacist.

Read

Hay fever and sleep: how to rest better in pollen season

Hay fever and sleep rarely mix. Why nights feel worse, a calm evening routine that keeps pollen out of the bedroom, and when to ask a pharmacist.

Read

Hay fever in children: a calm guide for parents

Hay fever in children, explained for parents: the signs, why it happens, gentle everyday steps that help at home, and when to see a pharmacist or GP.

Read

Hay fever or a cold? How to tell the difference

Hay fever or a cold? How to tell the difference: itchy eyes, fever, mucus, timing and duration — plus a comparison table and when to see a pharmacist.

Read

When is hay fever season in the UK?

When is hay fever season in the UK? Tree, grass and weed pollen run from late March to September — here is the calm guide to each hay fever season window.

Read

Why is my hay fever worse at night?

Why is hay fever worse at night? Evening pollen settles back down, open windows let it in, and it clings to bedding. Calm ways to keep your room clearer.

Read

How common is hay fever in the UK?

How common is hay fever in the UK? Around 1 in 4 adults and about 1 in 8 children — roughly 16 million people. A calm look at the numbers.

Read

How to reduce pollen in your home: a calm, practical guide

How to reduce pollen in your home: calm, room-by-room steps for windows, washing, dusting and pets, so hay fever feels easier indoors.

Read

Pollen calendar UK: when tree, grass and weed pollen peak

The pollen calendar UK explained: when tree, grass and weed pollen peak, month by month, plus calm, practical steps for the days when levels run high.

Pollen forecast

What the pollen count actually means, how it's measured, and how to read your local picture.

General hay fever

Everyday questions about hay fever — symptoms, triggers and plain-English answers.

Grass pollen

The most common summer trigger — what it is, when it peaks, and how it can affect you.

Coming soon

What is grass pollen, and why does it affect so many people?

A plain introduction to grass pollen — the UK's most common summer trigger.

Coming soon

When is the grass pollen season in the UK?

Roughly when grass pollen rises and falls through the year.

Tree pollen

Spring tree pollens like birch, and why they can matter in your local area.

Coming soon

Birch and other tree pollens explained

A gentle overview of spring tree pollens and where they come from.

Weather and allergies

How wind, rain, humidity and dry spells can change how pollen behaves.

Children and hay fever

Plain, practical background for parents. Always speak to a pharmacist or GP about your child's health.

Exercise and allergies

Thinking about when and where to be active on higher-pollen days.

Coming soon

Thinking about exercise on higher-pollen days

Timing and location ideas for staying active when pollen is high.

Sleep and symptoms

How symptoms and everyday routines can affect rest, and small things that may help.

Symptom diary

Why a simple daily note of how you feel helps you spot your own patterns.

Coming soon

How a simple symptom diary helps you understand yourself

Why logging how you feel reveals your own personal patterns.

Home environment

The surroundings around your home — parks, grassland, trees — and why they matter.