The man who bought a deserted island in 1962 for thousands of dollars: he planted 16,000 trees and turned it into an anti-rich sanctuary
A British man’s dedication on the island became an inspiration for environmental preservation worldwide.
Brendon Grimshaw was the last private owner of “Middle Island,” a tiny patch of land tucked inside the Seychelles archipelago off the coast of East Africa.
When he bought it in 1962, the British journalist made an unusual choice for the era: instead of developing the island, he dedicated his life to restoring and protecting it. With the help of his close friend René Antoine Lafortune, Grimshaw turned that vision into reality.
Over the decades, their work became a global symbol of wildlife conservation, inspiring environmental movements long before the term “eco‑tourism” entered the mainstream. The island—better known today as Moyenne Island—now boasts lush biodiversity, winding nature trails, and a thriving ecosystem carefully rebuilt by Grimshaw and Lafortune.
Visitors are welcome to explore the island’s postcard‑worthy scenery and observe the giant land tortoises that roam freely along its beaches. Even with tourism, Moyenne remains a model of environmental stewardship, and guests are urged to respect its fragile wildlife and vegetation.
They Planted 16,000 Trees
According to the Portuguese outlet Diário do Litoral, Moyenne Island was nearly barren when Grimshaw purchased it in 1962. Years of neglect had stripped the land of vegetation, eroded the soil, and driven away most of the native wildlife. In the Seychelles—where many islands had once been eyed for commercial development—Moyenne seemed like a lost cause.
But that only strengthened Grimshaw’s resolve. Determined to restore the island’s natural beauty, he and Lafortune began carving out trails by hand, studying which plant species could survive the local climate, and designing a long‑term ecological plan.
Mahogany trees became a cornerstone of their strategy thanks to their durability and dense canopy. They also planted palm trees to provide shelter and food for returning wildlife. In total, the pair planted an astonishing 16,000 trees, transforming the island from a wasteland into a thriving forest.
Not for sale—at any price
Their efforts paid off. Endangered giant tortoises returned to Moyenne, followed by birds, insects, and other species that had vanished decades earlier. Grimshaw’s mission was simple: bring life back to the island without ever caging or controlling the animals that lived there.
But success brought new challenges. As the island flourished, real‑estate investors began offering Grimshaw multimillion‑dollar deals to build luxury properties on Moyenne. The calls and visits were relentless. Still, he refused every offer. He knew that selling the island would mean its destruction—its forests replaced by concrete, its wildlife pushed out once again.
When Grimshaw passed away in 2012, Moyenne Island was officially incorporated into the Seychelles National Marine Park. The government honored his wishes by ensuring the island could never be commercialized.
Today, his legacy lives on in every tree, every tortoise, and every inch of restored forest that covers the island—a testament to what one determined person can accomplish when they choose preservation over profit.
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