Organic farms 'best for wildlife'

Organic farms help wildlife more than normal ones, according to a new study of 180 farms from Cornwall to Cumbria.

The farms, which try not to use man-made chemicals to kill pests or fertilise the soil, contained 85% more plant species and lots more animals.

The study said wildlife also benefited from the smaller fields and bigger hedges on organic farms.

The government-funded five-year survey was the biggest ever investigation into organic farming.

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As well as more plant species, the study found there were 33% more bats, 17% more spiders and 5% more birds on organic farms.

Dr Lisa Norton, of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, said: "Hedges are full of native, berry-producing shrubs, which are great for insects and the birds and bats that feed on them."

The study's leaders say this means making more farmland organic would be very good for wildlife across the UK.