A FORMER country estate near Bromham has featured in a national list of the worst parks for those that suffer with hay fever this summer.

With high pollen levels across the country as summer officially begins, home health testing experts YorkTest conducted research into the pollen levels of the 100 largest parks across England, Scotland and Wales. 

The research looked at grass pollen count data over a five-day period to establish where is most likely to cause hay fever symptoms - and where may be best for people to enjoy the outdoors with less risk of watery eyes. 

Spye Park, a 943-acre late-18th-century landscape park and pleasure ground between Lacock and Chittoe, near Bromham, is expected to have the sixth highest grass pollen count nationally which could prove frustrating for hay fever sufferers who want to enjoy a walk or a picnic over the next few weeks.

The geographic area around the park has an average of 118.2 grains of grass pollen per cubic metre - the sixth highest count in the UK.

Sal Hanvey, expert nutritionist at YorkTest said: “Hay fever affects one in four people in the UK according to the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, which equals around 16 million people.

“Early in the summer, grass pollen can be especially high, triggering allergies and affecting your day-to-day life as you go for walks, exercise outdoors and socialise with your friends. 

“This research has been conducted to highlight the areas where people may want to take extra precautions in the next few weeks if they know that they’re often prone to pollen reactions.

“It’s also worth noting for anyone who is constantly struggling with pollen allergies in the early summer months – in case they’re considering relocation. 

“I’d always recommend consulting your doctor before taking any new medication and exploring whether other remedies also help to manage and alleviate your hay fever symptoms.

“This can include taking more frequent showers, regularly changing your clothes when the pollen count is high, and even your diet.

“Some foods and drinks are rich in histamines which cause puffy eyes and runny nose, such as alcohol, yoghurt and even avocados.

“You may wish to research more anti-histamine foods and incorporate these into the diet in peak hay fever season, as this may well lessen the severity of your symptoms in a natural way.”  

Moors Valley Country Park in Dorset topped the list (149.4) with Stanwick Lakes in Northamptonshire (127.6), and Dodington Park in Bristol (126.6) completing the top three.

The top 10 worst parks for hay fever sufferers are: 

 

Rank

Park

Area 

Average grass pollen count [grains/m] 5-day average

1

Moors Valley Country Park

Ashley Heath, Dorset

149.4

2

Stanwick Lakes Country Park

Stanwick, Northamptonshire

127.6

3

Dodington Park

Bristol, Gloucestershire

126.6

4

Rutland Water

Whitwell, Rutland

122.2

5

Coombe Country Park

Rugby, Warwickshire

120.4

6

Spye Park

Bromham, Wiltshire

118.2

7

Lulworth Park

East Lulworth, Dorset

115

8

Kingsbury Water Park

Warwickshire

99.2

=8

Petworth Park

Chichester, West Sussex

99.2

10

Marston Vale Millennium Country Park

Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire

98.8

 

Readers can see the full research, including the 20 parks with the highest pollen levels, here.