07/02/2026
This great man deserves a great deal of respect🫡
This man bought a tropical island for about the price of a used car — then spent the rest of his life protecting it.
In 1962, British newspaper editor Brendon Grimshaw bought Moyenne Island in the Seychelles for around £8,000, or about $10,000 at the time.
But it was not the untouched paradise people imagine.
The island was overgrown, neglected, difficult to walk through, and had very little visible wildlife. Instead of turning it into a private resort, Grimshaw chose a completely different life.
With help from local Seychellois partner René Antoine Lafortune, he spent decades clearing paths, planting trees, restoring habitat, and bringing life back to the island. Over time, Moyenne became home to thousands of trees, birds, and giant Aldabra tortoises.
Grimshaw reportedly turned down huge offers from developers, including one widely reported offer of around $50 million from a Saudi prince. His reason was simple: he did not want Moyenne turned into another luxury playground. He wanted it protected as a nature reserve.
Before his death in 2012, he helped secure the island’s future through a trust and an agreement with Seychelles’ Ministry of Environment. Moyenne became Moyenne Island National Park, often described as one of the smallest national parks in the world.
Most people spend their lives trying to own more.
Brendon Grimshaw spent his trying to make sure one tiny island could never be owned by greed.
