Species-rich seed mixtures were developed and tested to establish improved field margins (IFM) which increase floral and faunal diversity, effects of IFM on bio indicators were studied and the public's valuation of IFM was evaluated. The use of species rich seed mixtures with regional ecotypes was able to re-introduce rare plant species that formerly have been typical in crop-dominated landscapes in Switzerland. Already one year after sowing, IFM attracted many times more butterflies and grasshoppers than the conventional margins, and more than most other ecological compensation area types in the area. Compared with sown wildflower strips and conventional field margins, IFM had an intermediate position for ground beetles and spiders. Overall, farmers and non-farmers valued the establishment of IFM positively, mainly because they appreciated the increased biodiversity in the cultivated landscape.