A Quiet Purchase with Big Dreams
In 1962, Brendon Grimshaw, a newspaper editor from Dewsbury, England, bought Moyenne Island, a small 24-acre island off the coast of Mahé in Seychelles, for £8,000. At that time, the island had been abandoned since the 1960s and was little more than overgrown land with two old graves said to belong to pirates.
Transforming a Forgotten Place
Grimshaw moved to Moyenne and, together with local Seychellois René Antoine Lafortune, began reshaping the island. They planted around 16,000 trees, carved out nature trails, and introduced Aldabra giant tortoises to roam the land. Over the decades, the island transformed into a haven for native plants, birds, and nearly 50 giant tortoises, creating one of the richest natural reserves in the region.
From Private Island to National Park
For 20 years, Grimshaw and Lafortune worked to have Moyenne recognized as a national park, separate from the Sainte Anne Marine National Park surrounding it. Their efforts succeeded, and Moyenne Island National Park was officially established, ensuring the island’s protection and opening it for visitors through organized trips. Today, visitors can explore the beach, nature trails, and a museum dedicated to Grimshaw’s work.
One Inhabitant Until the End
Until his death in July 2012, Grimshaw remained Moyenne Island’s only resident. Afterward, his friend Suketu Patel took over management through the Moyenne Island Foundation. The island remains largely undeveloped, with just a small restaurant, the warden’s house, and the free-roaming tortoises, preserving Grimshaw’s decades-long effort to protect its natural beauty.
In 1962, Brendon Grimshaw, an English editor, bought Moyenne Island in Seychelles for £8,000.
Once abandoned, the small 24-acre island held pirate graves and wild land.
Grimshaw set out to transform it into something extraordinary over decades…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/Jn9Zec5DoW
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) July 15, 2025