Henk Rugenbrink
@henkrugenbrink.bsky.social
Biologist, father, husband. Active runner. Ecological restoration manager of deteriorated terrains near Ibi (Spain) and Dampierre-les-Conflans (France).
HQ in Utrecht (NL).
#permaculture #rewilding #ecology #sustainability
HQ in Utrecht (NL).
#permaculture #rewilding #ecology #sustainability
This winter I had hoped for snow on “my” mountain near Ibi – no luck so far. Back in Utrecht the snow found me instead: a quiet white forest and a row of snow rabbits ( Nijntjes) in Julianapark. We don’t see this much snow here very often anymore.
#Utrecht #Netherlands #snow #winter #urbannature
#Utrecht #Netherlands #snow #winter #urbannature
January 5, 2026 at 6:05 PM
This winter I had hoped for snow on “my” mountain near Ibi – no luck so far. Back in Utrecht the snow found me instead: a quiet white forest and a row of snow rabbits ( Nijntjes) in Julianapark. We don’t see this much snow here very often anymore.
#Utrecht #Netherlands #snow #winter #urbannature
#Utrecht #Netherlands #snow #winter #urbannature
Wishing you all a year with more light, more wild nature and more time outside. Happy 2026!
(Some of you may recognise this view already – it’s the same rocky hillside above Ibi, just a new year ahead.)
#Ibi #Spain #mountains #rewilding #permaculture #NewYear
(Some of you may recognise this view already – it’s the same rocky hillside above Ibi, just a new year ahead.)
#Ibi #Spain #mountains #rewilding #permaculture #NewYear
January 1, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Wishing you all a year with more light, more wild nature and more time outside. Happy 2026!
(Some of you may recognise this view already – it’s the same rocky hillside above Ibi, just a new year ahead.)
#Ibi #Spain #mountains #rewilding #permaculture #NewYear
(Some of you may recognise this view already – it’s the same rocky hillside above Ibi, just a new year ahead.)
#Ibi #Spain #mountains #rewilding #permaculture #NewYear
The Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), in the huge numbers it’s planted in Spain, is extremely fire-prone. The problem isn’t the species itself but how we manage it: dense, uniform pine stands that turn into tinderboxes in drought. This kind of forest management really needs attention.
December 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), in the huge numbers it’s planted in Spain, is extremely fire-prone. The problem isn’t the species itself but how we manage it: dense, uniform pine stands that turn into tinderboxes in drought. This kind of forest management really needs attention.
After 48 hours of almost non-stop rain, the new water basins are holding up well: there’s still water in them. With a bit of extra natural clay added they should become great toad ponds!
#Ibi #Spain #waterharvesting #ponds #midwifetoad #rewilding #permaculture
#Ibi #Spain #waterharvesting #ponds #midwifetoad #rewilding #permaculture
December 27, 2025 at 12:58 PM
After 48 hours of almost non-stop rain, the new water basins are holding up well: there’s still water in them. With a bit of extra natural clay added they should become great toad ponds!
#Ibi #Spain #waterharvesting #ponds #midwifetoad #rewilding #permaculture
#Ibi #Spain #waterharvesting #ponds #midwifetoad #rewilding #permaculture
On the land there are now at least four sizeable witches’ brooms. This beautiful witches’ broom is growing in an Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis).
#Ibi #Spain #witchesbroom #PinusHalepensis #AleppoPine #trees #biodiversity #nature
#Ibi #Spain #witchesbroom #PinusHalepensis #AleppoPine #trees #biodiversity #nature
December 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
On the land there are now at least four sizeable witches’ brooms. This beautiful witches’ broom is growing in an Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis).
#Ibi #Spain #witchesbroom #PinusHalepensis #AleppoPine #trees #biodiversity #nature
#Ibi #Spain #witchesbroom #PinusHalepensis #AleppoPine #trees #biodiversity #nature
I don’t go up there very often – it’s a 100-metre scramble up to about 950 m – but today I was rewarded with a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea, 35 km away.
#Ibi #Spain #Mediterranean #mountains #views #landscape #drylands
#Ibi #Spain #Mediterranean #mountains #views #landscape #drylands
December 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I don’t go up there very often – it’s a 100-metre scramble up to about 950 m – but today I was rewarded with a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea, 35 km away.
#Ibi #Spain #Mediterranean #mountains #views #landscape #drylands
#Ibi #Spain #Mediterranean #mountains #views #landscape #drylands
On the mountain we finally had a good amount of rain again. A few more days of drizzle and the first níscalos (picture from wikipedia) will start popping up under the Aleppo pines
#Ibi #Spain #niscalos #Lactariusdeliciosus #AleppoPine #mushrooms
#Ibi #Spain #niscalos #Lactariusdeliciosus #AleppoPine #mushrooms
December 16, 2025 at 8:45 AM
On the mountain we finally had a good amount of rain again. A few more days of drizzle and the first níscalos (picture from wikipedia) will start popping up under the Aleppo pines
#Ibi #Spain #niscalos #Lactariusdeliciosus #AleppoPine #mushrooms
#Ibi #Spain #niscalos #Lactariusdeliciosus #AleppoPine #mushrooms
Under the almond field we’ve dug a new water-catchment basin. Together with a small berm it should slow down runoff and reduce erosion further downhill. Heavy rain (DANA) is expected in the coming days – curious to see how it performs.
#Ibi #Spain #waterharvesting #erosion #permaculture #rewilding
#Ibi #Spain #waterharvesting #erosion #permaculture #rewilding
December 14, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Under the almond field we’ve dug a new water-catchment basin. Together with a small berm it should slow down runoff and reduce erosion further downhill. Heavy rain (DANA) is expected in the coming days – curious to see how it performs.
#Ibi #Spain #waterharvesting #erosion #permaculture #rewilding
#Ibi #Spain #waterharvesting #erosion #permaculture #rewilding
Reposted by Henk Rugenbrink
"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree," Martin Luther King Jr.
May 8, 2025 at 10:54 PM
"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree," Martin Luther King Jr.
Several groups of arruí (Barbary sheep) have been crossing the almond field almost every day. They leave welcome droppings everywhere – free fertilizer and imported seeds!
#Ibi #Spain #arrui #BarbarySheep #rewilding #permaculture #soilhealth #drylands #almonds
#Ibi #Spain #arrui #BarbarySheep #rewilding #permaculture #soilhealth #drylands #almonds
December 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Several groups of arruí (Barbary sheep) have been crossing the almond field almost every day. They leave welcome droppings everywhere – free fertilizer and imported seeds!
#Ibi #Spain #arrui #BarbarySheep #rewilding #permaculture #soilhealth #drylands #almonds
#Ibi #Spain #arrui #BarbarySheep #rewilding #permaculture #soilhealth #drylands #almonds
On the land, wild roses keep popping up on the slightly wetter edges of the terraces. Probably fieldbriar. The rose hips are now overripe – perfect food for the birds.
#Ibi #Spain #wildroses #fieldbriar #rosehips #rewilding #permaculture #drylands #wildflowers #birds
#Ibi #Spain #wildroses #fieldbriar #rosehips #rewilding #permaculture #drylands #wildflowers #birds
December 11, 2025 at 6:41 PM
On the land, wild roses keep popping up on the slightly wetter edges of the terraces. Probably fieldbriar. The rose hips are now overripe – perfect food for the birds.
#Ibi #Spain #wildroses #fieldbriar #rosehips #rewilding #permaculture #drylands #wildflowers #birds
#Ibi #Spain #wildroses #fieldbriar #rosehips #rewilding #permaculture #drylands #wildflowers #birds
On the slightly wetter edges of the terraces, small surprises keep appearing.
Here, a tiny holm oak already carrying beautiful acorns.
#Ibi #Spain #holmOak #rewilding #permaculture #drylands
Here, a tiny holm oak already carrying beautiful acorns.
#Ibi #Spain #holmOak #rewilding #permaculture #drylands
December 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
On the slightly wetter edges of the terraces, small surprises keep appearing.
Here, a tiny holm oak already carrying beautiful acorns.
#Ibi #Spain #holmOak #rewilding #permaculture #drylands
Here, a tiny holm oak already carrying beautiful acorns.
#Ibi #Spain #holmOak #rewilding #permaculture #drylands
After a week of back pain I’m finally back to digging bunds again.
A small earth ridge, but a big effect: every shower that falls here stays a bit longer around the olive and almond trees, helping this dry terrace become more resilient step by step.
#bunds #permaculture #rewilding #ibi
A small earth ridge, but a big effect: every shower that falls here stays a bit longer around the olive and almond trees, helping this dry terrace become more resilient step by step.
#bunds #permaculture #rewilding #ibi
December 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
After a week of back pain I’m finally back to digging bunds again.
A small earth ridge, but a big effect: every shower that falls here stays a bit longer around the olive and almond trees, helping this dry terrace become more resilient step by step.
#bunds #permaculture #rewilding #ibi
A small earth ridge, but a big effect: every shower that falls here stays a bit longer around the olive and almond trees, helping this dry terrace become more resilient step by step.
#bunds #permaculture #rewilding #ibi
Maybe it’s a idea, i will keep it in mind. Thanks for your example, really inspiring! Rules and regulations are very strict in Spain (i am a foreigner here ). Biggest part of my project is ‘protected area’. The mentioned cave though is not in the protected area though.
December 8, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Maybe it’s a idea, i will keep it in mind. Thanks for your example, really inspiring! Rules and regulations are very strict in Spain (i am a foreigner here ). Biggest part of my project is ‘protected area’. The mentioned cave though is not in the protected area though.
Under our dry terraces lies a piece of Ibi’s speleological history: the cave Sima Sant Josep de Biscoy.
The entrance is now safely closed while we restore the land above. Historic photos and the discovery story (ES
m.facebook.com/groups/48515...?
The entrance is now safely closed while we restore the land above. Historic photos and the discovery story (ES
m.facebook.com/groups/48515...?
December 8, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Under our dry terraces lies a piece of Ibi’s speleological history: the cave Sima Sant Josep de Biscoy.
The entrance is now safely closed while we restore the land above. Historic photos and the discovery story (ES
m.facebook.com/groups/48515...?
The entrance is now safely closed while we restore the land above. Historic photos and the discovery story (ES
m.facebook.com/groups/48515...?
December, an unexpected find! a small group of quince trees, still full of fruit, on the edge of a dry terrace – exactly where the soil holds just a bit more moisture. The first harvest has already been turned into fragrant compote.
#quince #Spain #terraces #drylands #slowfood
#quince #Spain #terraces #drylands #slowfood
December 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Now I finally see it… (after three years)
On tiny patches of this land, moisture differs a lot. Here at the grass-covered terrace edge, water lingers and sinks in — a few metres further it just runs off and the soil is bone dry.
#permaculture #rewilding #spain
On tiny patches of this land, moisture differs a lot. Here at the grass-covered terrace edge, water lingers and sinks in — a few metres further it just runs off and the soil is bone dry.
#permaculture #rewilding #spain
December 6, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Now I finally see it… (after three years)
On tiny patches of this land, moisture differs a lot. Here at the grass-covered terrace edge, water lingers and sinks in — a few metres further it just runs off and the soil is bone dry.
#permaculture #rewilding #spain
On tiny patches of this land, moisture differs a lot. Here at the grass-covered terrace edge, water lingers and sinks in — a few metres further it just runs off and the soil is bone dry.
#permaculture #rewilding #spain
Gorse (Ulex europaeus) started flowering here today — early December at 950 m. Remarkable how this species brings colour to a dry Mediterranean mountain landscape in mid-winter.
#rewilding #ecology #Mediterranean #Alicante #Ibi #mountains #biodiversity #nativeplants #winter-flowering
#rewilding #ecology #Mediterranean #Alicante #Ibi #mountains #biodiversity #nativeplants #winter-flowering
December 5, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Gorse (Ulex europaeus) started flowering here today — early December at 950 m. Remarkable how this species brings colour to a dry Mediterranean mountain landscape in mid-winter.
#rewilding #ecology #Mediterranean #Alicante #Ibi #mountains #biodiversity #nativeplants #winter-flowering
#rewilding #ecology #Mediterranean #Alicante #Ibi #mountains #biodiversity #nativeplants #winter-flowering
Three terraces with old olive trees, and not a single olive this year.
The bright orange Xanthoria parietina you see isn’t heat stress, but a sign of slow sap flow and long-term under-pruning. Clean air, little vitality.
#rewilding #ecology #olives #Ibi #Alicante #permaculture #landrestoration
The bright orange Xanthoria parietina you see isn’t heat stress, but a sign of slow sap flow and long-term under-pruning. Clean air, little vitality.
#rewilding #ecology #olives #Ibi #Alicante #permaculture #landrestoration
December 3, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Three terraces with old olive trees, and not a single olive this year.
The bright orange Xanthoria parietina you see isn’t heat stress, but a sign of slow sap flow and long-term under-pruning. Clean air, little vitality.
#rewilding #ecology #olives #Ibi #Alicante #permaculture #landrestoration
The bright orange Xanthoria parietina you see isn’t heat stress, but a sign of slow sap flow and long-term under-pruning. Clean air, little vitality.
#rewilding #ecology #olives #Ibi #Alicante #permaculture #landrestoration
Today I dug a few new bunds at about 950 meters.
Hard, dry soil, but every small contour line helps slow down the runoff and gives the land a chance to breathe again.
Wildlife is already responding — more Barbary sheep are passing through than ever, leaving seeds and nutrients behind.
Hard, dry soil, but every small contour line helps slow down the runoff and gives the land a chance to breathe again.
Wildlife is already responding — more Barbary sheep are passing through than ever, leaving seeds and nutrients behind.
November 28, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Today I dug a few new bunds at about 950 meters.
Hard, dry soil, but every small contour line helps slow down the runoff and gives the land a chance to breathe again.
Wildlife is already responding — more Barbary sheep are passing through than ever, leaving seeds and nutrients behind.
Hard, dry soil, but every small contour line helps slow down the runoff and gives the land a chance to breathe again.
Wildlife is already responding — more Barbary sheep are passing through than ever, leaving seeds and nutrients behind.
Even more partridges a few days ago:
August 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Even more partridges a few days ago:
After the big wildfire in Parc Roja near Alcoi, a large number of partridges have arrived on our land.
#partridges #wildlife #ParcRoja #Alcoi #rewilding #ecology #nature #permaculture
#partridges #wildlife #ParcRoja #Alcoi #rewilding #ecology #nature #permaculture
August 6, 2025 at 5:17 AM
After the big wildfire in Parc Roja near Alcoi, a large number of partridges have arrived on our land.
#partridges #wildlife #ParcRoja #Alcoi #rewilding #ecology #nature #permaculture
#partridges #wildlife #ParcRoja #Alcoi #rewilding #ecology #nature #permaculture
62 years ago, there were more fish in the small pond at the Snippeling near Deventer. Duckweed didn’t stand a chance back then. It’s nice to see that this little spot ‘de kleine kolk’ still exists! #snippeling # snipperling # deventer
July 24, 2025 at 7:59 AM
62 years ago, there were more fish in the small pond at the Snippeling near Deventer. Duckweed didn’t stand a chance back then. It’s nice to see that this little spot ‘de kleine kolk’ still exists! #snippeling # snipperling # deventer
mouflons are roaming on the mountain: we see a whole family grazing on the grasses and grains we recently sowed. Their droppings will help spread seeds from distant areas. A beautiful collaboration with nature.”
#rewilding #permaculture #soilrestoration #mouflons #wildlife #biodiversity #ecology
#rewilding #permaculture #soilrestoration #mouflons #wildlife #biodiversity #ecology
June 14, 2025 at 8:51 AM
mouflons are roaming on the mountain: we see a whole family grazing on the grasses and grains we recently sowed. Their droppings will help spread seeds from distant areas. A beautiful collaboration with nature.”
#rewilding #permaculture #soilrestoration #mouflons #wildlife #biodiversity #ecology
#rewilding #permaculture #soilrestoration #mouflons #wildlife #biodiversity #ecology
The difference between mouflon and rabbit droppings.
Found today on the mountain near Ibi.
🔸 Large, oval = mouflon
🔸 Small, round = rabbit
#Ibi #wildtracks #ecology #mouflon #rabbit #permaculture #rewilding #biodiversity
Found today on the mountain near Ibi.
🔸 Large, oval = mouflon
🔸 Small, round = rabbit
#Ibi #wildtracks #ecology #mouflon #rabbit #permaculture #rewilding #biodiversity
June 2, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The difference between mouflon and rabbit droppings.
Found today on the mountain near Ibi.
🔸 Large, oval = mouflon
🔸 Small, round = rabbit
#Ibi #wildtracks #ecology #mouflon #rabbit #permaculture #rewilding #biodiversity
Found today on the mountain near Ibi.
🔸 Large, oval = mouflon
🔸 Small, round = rabbit
#Ibi #wildtracks #ecology #mouflon #rabbit #permaculture #rewilding #biodiversity