In 1996, Brendon Grimshaw's autobiography, "Pieces of Sand: The Story of a Man and an Island," was published. It tells the story of a modern-day Robinson Crusoe, born in England, working as a journalist, and, after quitting his job, buying Moyenne Island in the Seychelles chain, located between India and Africa, for £8,000.
Nine years later, he decided to settle there with an assistant originally from the same archipelago. When the owner arrived on the island, the vegetation was so dense that even the falling coconuts didn't reach the ground.
Grimshaw didn't just lie on the beach; he set about clearing the thicket, and in doing so, he let the island speak to him—this is how the author describes his approach to new plantings.
The new Robinson discovered that mahogany trees grew beautifully on Moyenne, so he brought back a few saplings, then more, and now there are 700 specimens, ranging from 18 to 21 meters tall. But this is only a small fraction of the 16,000 trees he planted by hand on the island. He gave refuge to rare giant tortoises, and now there are 120 of them on Moyenne. Birds flock to this protected sanctuary, and 2,000 of them are new arrivals.
In 2007, Grimshaw's assistant died, leaving him, at 86, the island's sole caretaker. Grimshaw succeeded in having the island designated as a nature reserve in 2008 and made part of a national park.
At one point, the island attracted the attention of some very wealthy and influential people. For example, a Saudi Arabian prince wanted to buy Moyenne for $50 million. However, Grimshaw refused:
"I don't want the island to become a favorite vacation spot for the rich. I'd rather it be a national park for everyone to enjoy."
He began allowing tourists onto the island, charging them 12 euros for admission. Grimshaw gave tours and invited guests to his restaurant, the Jolly Roger. When asked if he had ever felt lonely, he replied,
"Yes, just once. I was renting a room in London at the time."
Grimshaw lived on the uninhabited island until his death in 2012. Throughout this time, he was the only resident of Moyenne.
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