Moyenne Island is a small island (9.9 ha or 24 acres) in the Sainte Anne Marine National Park off the north coast of Mahé, Seychelles. Since the 1970s onwards, it has been a flora and fauna reserve. From 1915 until the 1960s, the island was abandoned until its purchase by Brendon Grimshaw for £8,000 (about $22,000). He was a newspaper editor from Dewsbury in Yorkshire, England.
 Moyenne island from the sea by Jean-Francis Martin | |
  Moyenne Island  Moyenne Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Seychelles, Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 4°37′10″S 55°30′31″E / 4.61944°S 55.50861°E |
| Archipelago | Inner Islands, Seychelles |
| Adjacent to | Indian Ocean |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Major islands |
|
| Area | 0.099 km2 (0.038 sq mi) |
| Length | 0.4 km (0.25 mi) |
| Width | 0.3 km (0.19 mi) |
| Coastline | 1.7 km (1.06 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 61 m (200 ft) |
| Highest point | Mont Moyenne |
| Administration | |
| Group | Granitic Seychelles |
| Sub-Group | Mahe Islands |
| Sub-Group | Ste. Anne Islands |
| Districts | Mont Fleuri |
| Largest settlement | Anse Creole Travel Services (pop. 1) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1 (2014) |
| Pop. density | 10.1/km2 (26.2/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Creole, French, East Africans, Indians. |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| ISO code | SC-18 |
| Official website | www |
Grimshaw was the only inhabitant of the island until his death in July 2012.[1] The island is now a national park and can be visited as part of organized trips.[2][3]
History
edit
Moyenne Island, named after the French word for "middle", has a rich history. Pirates allegedly used the island in the 18th and 19th centuries, and two "pirate graves" remain. Philippe Georges owned the island from 1946 to 1962, living there with his wife Vera before moving to Mahé. The island features a viewpoint and beach named after Vera.
In 1962, Brendon Grimshaw bought the island from Philippe Georges for £8,000 (equivalent to £216,000 in 2023).[4] Grimshaw and René Antoine Lafortune[5] transformed the island by planting 16,000 trees, building nature paths, and introducing Aldabra giant tortoises. Their goal was to create an island of exceptional beauty, now home to diverse plant and bird life, and nearly 50 giant tortoises.[6]
After 20 years of persistence, Grimshaw and Lafortune succeeded in making Moyenne Island a national park in its own right.[7] [8] The island is now known as Moyenne Island National Park, separate from the surrounding Sainte Anne Marine National Park. Following Grimshaw's death in 2012,[9] his friend Suketu Patel oversees the Moyenne Island Foundation, managing the island and fulfilling Grimshaw's vision of preserving the island's natural beauty.
The island remains largely undeveloped, with a small restaurant and museum dedicated to Grimshaw. The fifty Aldabra giant tortoises roam freely,[10] and the island is a testament to Grimshaw's dedication to conservation.
Administration
editThe island belongs to Mont Fleuri District.[11]
Tourism
editToday, the island's main industry is tourism, and it is known for its beaches. Behind the restaurant is the local warden's house.
Image gallery
edit-
Map 1 -
Moyenne Island -
Mahé Island View -
Moyenne island
References
edit- ^ "Seychelles' Brendon Grimshaw, owner of Moyenne island, dies at age 87". Breaking Travel News.
- ^ http://wanderingcarol.com/seychelles-islands-moyenne-tortoises/ Moyenne 2016 visit
- ^ "Moyenne Island Seychelles". www.cerf-resort.com.
- ^ "An 86-year-old, real-life Robinson Crusoe". BBC News. 29 April 2012.
- ^ Teale, Connor; Leeson, Lucy (April 10, 2022). "Yorkshire man buys tropical island for £8,000 and lives as a recluse". HullLive.
- ^ Ham, Anthony. "Moyenne Island: The world's smallest national park". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ "Moyenne island declared a national park". Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "86-year-old man lives on Moyenne Island with 120 tortoises". May 14, 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Moyenne Island: The world's smallest national park".
- ^ "Moyenne Island: The world's smallest national park". BBC.
- ^ "Virtualseychelles – the Safest and Fastest Organic Instagram Growth Service" (PDF). November 15, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-15.
External links
edit
Media related to Moyenne at Wikimedia Commons- Moyenne Island Guide
