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🇧🇪 Belgium /Environment & Climate

Mechelen park records 66 bee species after small biodiversity measures

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Researchers identified 66 bee species in Mechelen’s Maria Van Deyckpark, up from 15 in an earlier survey.
  • Measures including a bee nesting structure, additional flowers and less frequent mowing helped create more habitat for pollinators.
  • The survey is not yet fully processed, so the final number of species could rise.

A small urban park in Mechelen has recorded 66 bee species, more than four times the 15 found in an earlier survey.

A Natuurpunt expert mapped the bees during five inventory sessions from March to July. The findings included several notable species, including the dark-ridged mining bee, the shining dwarf mining bee and the dark-fringed furrow bee.

That it has now also appeared in Mechelen is striking.

· Jens D’HaeseleerThe Natuurpunt researcher highlighted the discovery of Kahr’s masked bee outside its previously known Antwerp-area range.

The Kahr’s masked bee had previously been found only in the Antwerp area. “That it has now also appeared in Mechelen is striking,” said Natuurpunt researcher Jens D’Haeseleer. Researchers also observed the meadow masked bee and the city masked bee.

Sixty-six different species is a very fine result and shows that the measures we are taking in Maria Van Deyckpark are creating more biodiversity.

· Patrick PrincenMechelen’s biodiversity alderman praised the park’s habitat measures.

Mechelen opened a bee castle in the park in May 2025. The city also planted more flowers and mowed some grass strips less frequently, creating additional nesting and feeding opportunities for wild bees and other pollinators.

Alderman for Biodiversity Patrick Princen said the 66 species showed that the measures were increasing biodiversity. The inventory has not yet been fully processed, and several bees still need definitive identification, so the final total may rise.

By deliberately making space for wild bees and other pollinators, we can support great biodiversity even in an urban environment. It is clear that this approach is paying off and biodiversity is increasing.

· Patrick PrincenHe described the broader purpose of the park’s biodiversity measures.
About this summary

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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