About Us
Who We Are
The Buckingham Canal Society is a Registered Charity (No. 1156662) and Charitable Incorporated Organisation striving to restore the Buckingham Canal for new life and recreational opportunities. Founded in January 1992, the society has grown from a volunteer group with a vision into a multi-faceted organisation operating commercial enterprises, managing restoration sites, and influencing national water policy.
The society would like to see the canal re-opened using the original line wherever possible. When restored, it will bring significant benefits to communities between Cosgrove and Buckingham — including recreation, biodiversity, heritage, and a strategic contribution to the nation’s water supply network.
Our Aims
The principle aims of the Buckingham Canal Society include:
- To promote the restoration of the Old Stratford and Buckingham Arms of the Grand Union Canal to full navigable order.
- To promote the maintenance and improvement of the Waterway in the interests of heritage, conservation, biodiversity, and water quality.
- To promote the fullest use of the Waterway by all forms of water-borne traffic and for water-related commercial, amenity, tourist and recreational activity for public benefit.
- To support the role of the restored canal as a strategic water resource, contributing to drinking water supply, flood mitigation, and drought resilience across the Upper Great Ouse catchment and the Milton Keynes area, in partnership with Anglian Water and other statutory bodies.
- To use the restoration as a catalyst for wider social, economic and environmental regeneration in areas neighbouring the canal.
For further information please see:
- Information on the benefits of restoring the canal.
- Our resources page that has our constitution, policies and other useful document and links.
- The contact details of key personnel, and the biographies of our Committee.
- A history of the Buckingham and Old Stratford Arms of the Grand Junction Canal (now together known as the Buckingham Canal).
- The history of the Buckingham Canal Society.
Our Structure
Organisation Update — June 2026
The Buckingham Canal Society has evolved significantly. In addition to the charitable society, the group now includes: Buckingham Canal Limited — a trading company for non-mooring activities including dredging and waterside services; Cosgrove Marina Ltd and Cosgrove Marina BR Ltd, providing mooring income to fund restoration; and emerging joint venture discussions for Ouse Valley Marina (Zone D) and a proposed Central England Water, Education, Engineering & Environment Hub (Zone E) at Dogsmouth Brook.