"There should be more attention to the planting of trees that don't cause hay fever." Professor Simon Haberle

It will come as no surprise to Canberrans sneezing, wheezing and itching their way through these first days of Spring, but hayfever rates in the national capital have once again been confirmed as head and shoulders above the rest of the country, just as the yearly pollen counts begin to rise.

We're being told to expect warmer and drier than average conditions in #Canberra, prompting a reminder from allergy experts, for sufferers to be aware of the conditions and make sure they're taking the necessary precautions.

Allergy sufferers from Tokyo to London are struggling as pollen levels surge in cities, possibly due to a preference for male trees

High Pollen Counts during Spring in Canberra

• High levels of pollen are predicted in most parts of Australia over the next week
• Experts warn the worst is yet to come as grass pollen hits at the end of the month
• Canberra and Adelaide are among the cities expected to see the worst levels

There's been an extreme start to the allergy season in Canberra with several days of high-pollen levels recorded, and experts are warning there could be more to come.

It was the fifth-warmest winter on record and the eighth-driest in New South Wales. But for anyone who suffers from springtime sniffles, a dry winter means a lower than average pollen count come spring.

Spring, when the weather starts to get warmer, the magpies come out swooping and two words become a common phrase: bless-you! This year, experts will be monitoring the spring season closely, in particular, hay fever caused by pollen

To celebrate the oncoming season of the sneeze, we explore the world of pollen with ThatPollenGuy, Professor Simon Haberle - we talk ancient roadways, 3d printing, huge sneezes and excellent pollen collections!