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Glasgow city council reveals plan to ease misery of hayfever sufferers

Glasgow city council reveals plan to ease misery of hayfever sufferers

Glasgow Times11-05-2025

Now, it is being suggested the council could take steps that could help ease the suffering of hayfever martyrs.
By planting certain species of trees and plants, a councillor has said a low pollen strategy could reduce the effects of hayfever.
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Dan Hutchison, Greens councillor for Govan said such a plan could be integrated into the councils biodiversity strategy.
He said hayfever affects one in four people at some point and is on the rise across Europe.
(Image: PA)
The councillor said the severity of symptoms in people is directly influenced by the concentration of airborne pollen.
In a motion to be debated at the council, he said: 'Changes to plants used in urban landscaping, such as the introduction of Birch trees, has contributed to a rise in allergen sensitivity.'
The plan includes: 'Low pollen planting' which he said 'deprioritises the planting of wind-pollinated plants such as grasses, and promotes multispecies plant communities, so is beneficial for wildlife and small pollinators such as bees and other insects.'
He added: 'Consideration should also be given to avoiding 'botanical sexism' where pollen-intensive 'male' plants, historically favoured by planners as they do not shed seeds or fruit and thus require less street cleansing, are not the only plants installed, and that 'female' fruit-producing plants are planted alongside."
'Female' trees will help to trap the excess pollen produced by 'male' trees, as well as other airborne pollution.'
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On Sunday, the pollen count was high in Glasgow and is expected to be medium and high this week.
One remedy for some people is said to be eating locally produced honey and Hutchison wants the council to support local honey producers in the city food plan
There are beehives on the roof of the City Chambers and Kelvingrove Art Galleries and Museum and he suggests that other council owned buildings and land could be used to support honey production.

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The National

time9 hours ago

  • The National

Suspected drug deaths in Scotland up by a third in three months

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time15 hours ago

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