An indicator framework to help maximise potential benefits for ecosystem services and biodiversity from ecological focus areas

•Ecological focus areas, part of the European Common Agricultural Policy, are explored.•The potential impact of these areas on ecosystem services and biodiversity is examined.•An indicator framework and impact scoring technique is presented.•Multiple land uses, landscape features, impacts, and spatial, ecological and management contexts are covered.•The framework has potential to educate and raise awareness of the potential impact of land management and landscape features.