UK’s First low allergen garden open to public
Summer is heating up, especially in our humid capital, and hayfever sufferers may have noticed their sniffly noses and itchy eyes become worse. For those that don’t know, this is because mid-June is the peak of the hayfever season, due to the high levels of airborne pollen. Those little pollen grains are so effective that it’s hard to tell when or where they’re about to strike. Or at least, that was until Piriton announced that they would be opening a unique pop-up low-allergen space in London where every plant used adheres to strict low-allergen criteria so everyone – including sniffly hayfever sufferers – can escape there for a break, and to learn more about exactly what causes their allergy, what plants to avoid – and which to embrace in their own gardens (probably not literally)!
An artist’s impression of Piriton’s Sneeze Free Garden in London
Named The Sneeze Free Garden, the pop-up, low-allergen garden on London’s Southbank will be opening its gates to the public from Thursday 19 June until Sunday 22 June, with more than 2,000 plants used to create the walls to the garden, with the vivid range including Begonias, Geraniums, Hibiscus, Fuchsias, Petunias, Clematis and Bay trees…
Yellow Nasturtium-Photo credits: Gabrielle Ludlow
To ensure that this space is as low-risk of triggering an allergic reaction as possible, allergy relief brand Piriton has enlisted the assistance of expert horticulturalist Thomas Ogren to develop the plant list – only plants rated a low one to five on his plant-allergy scale OPALSä have been used in the planting process. Furthermore, the plants in the garden are only female or insect-pollinated – to reduce the risk of pollen becoming airborne – as it is those pesky pollen grains that float easily through the air which can then be easily inhaled and trigger hayfever symptoms. However not everyone wants to sit back and relax whilst enjoying the flora, so there will also be information available about allergies available, as well as fun activities for kids such as plant pot decoration.
The Sneeze Free Garden will be sited at Observation Point, Queen’s Walk, London’s Southbank and will be open to the public from 10am-5pm from Thursday 19 June until Sunday 22 June. Check out Piri Allergy Facebook page for more info.
The Pirini Garden in Southbank – Photo credit: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire
What: Pop-up Sneeze Free Garden
When: 19 – 22 June, 2014
Where: Observation Point, Queen’s Walk, SE1 8XX
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