Bee Local Magazine has been a community magazine for Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding Beds and Bucks villages since 2012.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to connect local people with the businesses, events, and good news stories that make our town thrive.
Since our first issue, Bee Local has grown into one of the area’s most trusted sources of community information. Every edition is lovingly crafted, printed, and distributed by a small team who care deeply about Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding villages.
Our website continues that mission as a hub celebrating everything that makes our town special. From local good news stories and monthly “What’s On” listings to lifestyle features and in-depth guides, Bee Local helps readers discover more about the people and places that make our area unique.
Our History
Our very first edition of Bee Local — then known as The Vine Leighton Buzzard — was published in April/May 2012.
Back then, there were six editions per year, with 12,000 printed copies delivered each time.
It was in 2015, we became Bee Local Magazine, a name that better reflected our ‘buzzing’ (sorry) sense of community.
Today, Bee Local prints and delivers 19,000 copies per edition, across ten issues each year, continuing to grow alongside the community we serve.
Part of the Community
Wherever possible, we support our community and the businesses within it. Over the years, we’ve included many thousands of pounds’ worth of free advertising for local charities and organisations.
Since 2013, we’ve worked with Leighton-Linslade Town Council to help organise and plan the annual Business Network Event — and since 2017, we’ve proudly supported it as official sponsors.
We also finance and administer the Leighton-Linslade Directory on behalf of the Town Council, providing free business listings for operators within a six-mile radius of Market Cross.
There are many other ways we’ve contributed; through volunteering, donations, competitions, speaking and sponsorships but we see that as simply part of our role in the community rather than something to shout about here.
Who’s Behind Bee Local?
Andrena Carden-Higgins (née Lovell) is the editor and owner of Bee Local Magazine. She works with a tiny part-time team of talented freelancers to produce each issue.
Fun fact: Andrena is a genus of bees in the family Andrenidae, with over 1,500 species a happy coincidence that inspired both the magazine’s name and local focus.
Fun fact: Our cheerful little bee character is called Herbee (as in “her bee”) see if you can spot him hidden somewhere in every printed edition!
The Economic Impact of Using Bee Local
Every edition of Bee Local supports our local economy in real, measurable ways.
We employ local companies in Beds, Bucks and Herts to print and distribute each issue, helping sustain jobs right here in our community.
Our advertisers rely on Bee Local to generate bookings, sales, and brand awareness, keeping local businesses thriving.
Charities recruit volunteers and attract donations through our pages, and community events see increased attendance thanks to the publicity we provide.
By choosing Bee Local whether as a reader, advertiser, or partner you’re helping to strengthen the local economy and keep our town buzzing.
Get Involved:
Whether you’re a reader, advertiser, or community group, we’d like thank you for being part of our journey. Bee Local is here to help your voice be heard. Explore the pages below to find out more
- Rushmere Park Academy children learn life-saving first aid skills
Children at Rushmere Park Academy have been learning some important life-saving skills, thanks to a visit from Mini First Aid Bedfordshire & Luton. In September, children from Reception… Read more: Rushmere Park Academy children learn life-saving first aid skills - Household Waste Recycling Centres temporarily pause accepting fridges and freezers
Residents are being asked to delay taking old fridges and freezers to Central Bedfordshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) while a specialist recycling facility clears a backlog following… Read more: Household Waste Recycling Centres temporarily pause accepting fridges and freezers - Inclusive Footballer’s Solid Start
The Adult Leighton Park Rangers/ Yes We Can Inclusive Footballers got off to a solid start at the first Berks/ Bucks/ Oxfordshire Inclusion Football Tournament of the 2026/27… Read more: Inclusive Footballer’s Solid Start - Lighting Up the Lion
Whipsnade’s White Lion lights up again, connecting generations of local history Whipsnade’s White Lion lit up the hillside as part of the Zoological Society of London’s 200th anniversary… Read more: Lighting Up the Lion - Read the October Magazine edition of Bee Local
It certainly is feeling Autumnal here at the Bee headquarters. The October print edition is popping through the letterboxes right now in the Bee Local distribution area Fortunately… Read more: Read the October Magazine edition of Bee Local
