The story of how Brendon Grimshaw turned a $13k island into a national park is inspiring. Many years ago, Brendon bought an island in Seychelles named Moyenne. Moyenne used to be an abandoned countryside. Its history is a subtle reminder of how other islands, like Seychelles, were before tourism. Brendon purchased his island for a different reason than most individuals, who bought their own little paradise in search of opulence. Continue reading for a brief history of Moyenne Island.
Brendon Needed More Than A Holiday
In 1962, Brendon made his first vacation visit to Seychelles. The Seychelles are 115 islands in an archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Brendon was an editor at the time, employed by several of East Africa’s largest publications. It was at the time when Africa experienced a thrilling period. However, Brendon wanted more from his vacation.
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As an Englishman, he knew locals would soon take over occupations like his since Tanzania and Kenya declared their independence the year before. So the English man looked for a new career path that would bring him closer to nature because he anticipated losing his job shortly. His ideal desire was to purchase his own island in Seychelles.
How Brendon Found And Purchased His Beloved Island
Brendon discovered that there weren’t many islands for sale as he looked for one. The ones that were available cost a fortune. Then, on the second to the final day of his vacation, a young guy approached Brendon in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles, and inquired about his interest in purchasing an island.
Instantaneously, they embarked on a joint journey to Moyenne, a 0.099 sq km dot located 4.5 km off the north shore of Mahé, the largest island in Seychelles. Brendon’s heart was immediately captured because of Moyenne’s solitude and untamed tangle of greenery.
Brendon Turned Down Even The Highest Bidder
In the 1980s, Seychelle’s tourism increased, and the archipelago became a tropical island paradise. It was then that investors turned their covetous focus toward Moyenne. At this time, it had already undergone a transformation. For the island sale, Brendon received bids as high as $50 million from a Saudi Prince. He rebuffed any approaches. As time passed and Brendon became older, he became more conscious that he was running out of time and that no one was left to safeguard the island’s future.
In 2009, he signed an agreement with the Seychelles Ministry of Environment that included Moyenne as a part of Sainte Anne Marine Park but with its own unique status. He also established a perpetual trust to safeguard the island. Consequently, Moyenne Island National Park , one of the smallest of Seychelles’ inner islands, was created.
Brendon Achieved His Goals For Moyenne
Initially, Brendon wanted to safeguard Moyenne from overdevelopment. This originally meant exploring the island’s untamed beauty and constructing a modest island home where he could spend the rest of his days. However, his longer-term goal was to establish a protected natural paradise that would last long after he was gone. He succeeded in achieving his goals for Moyenne.
Brendon’s Death And Lasting Legacy
Brendon passed away in 2012. Upon his request, his tombstone bears the inscription, “Moyenne taught him to open his eyes to the beauty around him and say thank you to God.” Brendon was noble and gave back to nature in the grandest of ways. He will always be remembered as the man who led to the creation of the Moyenne Island National Park in Seychelles.
