As World Bee Day approaches on May 20th, something special is buzzing at Love Tomorrow. Since 2024, Love Tomorrow has been sponsoring a neighbouring bee sanctuary through a six-year investment that’s already showing impressive results.
A Sanctuary Next Door
Just steps away from the DreamVille camping grounds lie the Terhagen Clay Pits, a unique habitat that’s become a haven for wild bee species. This special location hosts rare pollinators including the nycthemeral miner (Andrena nycthemera), the northern mining bee (Andrena ruficrus), and one of the few places where visitors can spot the elusive dark nomad bee (Nomada obscura).
Exciting First-Year Results
The first monitoring results are in, and they’re creating quite a buzz! In just one year, the conservation efforts have led to:
- 1,147 new bee observations recorded in the sanctuary
- 23 new bee species discovered in the Kleiputten area adjacent to Dreamville
Detailed findings are available on the Natuurpunt website, showcasing the high bee diversity in the Terhagen Clay Pits. These results are part of one of Flanders’ first long-term research programmes focused on pollinators, providing critical insights into conservation effectiveness.
Why This Matters
Wild pollinators face significant challenges in Belgium. Of the 381 species of wild bees found in the country:
- 32.8% are endangered
- 6.8% are nearly endangered
- 11.8% are already regionally extinct
Through the partnership with Natuurpunt, Love Tomorrow is helping transform the Terhagen Clay Pits into one of 21 nature reserves being converted into bee sanctuaries across the region, directly supporting the Flemish Wild Pollinator Action Plan 2022-2030.
A Long-term Commitment
“We’ve enjoyed this beautiful area for over 20 years, and we want to do everything we can to ensure it remains as vibrant and liveable as it’s ever been,” says Debby Wilmsen of We Are One.World, the organisation behind Tomorrowland and Love Tomorrow.
The bee population will continue to be monitored every two years—in 2026, and 2028—allowing for tracking impact and adapting conservation strategies.
This World Bee Day celebrates not just the bees themselves, but the promise of a future where music, nature, and community thrive together in harmony.
