Signs of spring are appearing all around us. flowers and trees are bursting into colour and daylight is stretching into the evening.
The sun is also beginning to offer a little more warmth as it strengthens quite noticeably from late march onwards and uv levels creep into the moderate range.
But alongside these familiar seasonal markers comes a side to nature that is less welcome for many.
The pollen season is beginning its steady rise, starting to affect more people.
For an estimated 10 million people, these springtime awakenings, signals the return of hay fever — and the onset of symptoms that can make the fine weather months more challenging.
When does the pollen season begin?
whilst the official start of the met office's uk pollen‑season forecasts is mid march, many notice symptoms — from sneezing to itchy, irritated eyes — many weeks earlier.
Tree pollen is recognised as the first stage of the pollen season in the uk, and affects 25-35% of hay fever sufferers.
It runs from march to early june for most trees - however it can be as early as january because some trees produce pollen earlier.
Depending on where you live in the uk, these dates will vary slightly.
The different pollen seasons - tree, grass and weed - do overlap, which can heighten the suffering.