Motley Farm, ME17

Motley Farm is a wonderfully eccentric, animal-filled and prop-filled farm with self-sufficiency at its heart. Set in the Weald of Kent, the ramshackled, charming farmyard is surrounded by natural landscapes of grass fields peppered by hedgerows and ancient trees.

Home to a motley crew of friendly animals, some rescued, others home reared, they are attentively cared for by an owner who lives closely alongside them. From pigs, sheep, ducks and chickens to peacocks, guinea pigs, rabbits and a gentle mule, Motley Farm offers a feast for the senses at every turn – it is full of life, character and creative features.

The farmyard itself is layered with quirky detail and handmade elements, reflecting years of recycling, up-cycling and self-taught craftsmanship. Nothing is wasted at Motley Farm. Everything deserves its place. Hand-built sheds, animal pens and open-sided barns sit amongst vintage tractors, old caravans, a classic Land Rover and collections of salvaged farm treasures, all telling their own story of the generations of ancestors farming this piece of land. One barn is bursting with vintage furniture and curiosities, leading into a kitchen and sitting space, dressed with family heirlooms, including the great-grandparents suitcases and roller skates. Workshops and stores contain a variety of bikes (from modern drag bikes to an ancient tandem bicycle), farm machinery, and all kinds of unusual props – all adding yet more layers of history and authenticity to embrace when shooting here.

Popping up across the farmyard and farmland are old caravans, vans, shelters and trailers, all offering their own rustic or artsy charm. Take the portaloo even, it’s been painted with the colours of the countryside.

Beyond the farmyard, the surrounding land opens into pretty pastures with isolated trees, swings, wildflower meadows, reeds, a stream, a pond and small bridges. The farmhouse itself is available for exterior filming, with a charming garden, greenhouse and drive approach completing the setting.

Motley Farm is a labour of understated love, it’s a very welcoming, untouched, imaginative and deeply sentimental home for the owner and her animals, living in harmony with nature. It’s a one-of-a-kind location that cannot be matched elsewhere, uniquely combining animals, props, sustainable living and a beautifully untidy rural character all in one friendly place.

  • Old farmyard full of textures and quirks
  • Barn full of vintage props and furniture
  • Workshops and garages with bikes and tools
  • Hand-built sheds, animal pens and open-sided barns
  • Grassland fields with hedgerows, wildflowers, isolated trees, a pond and a stream
  • Farmhouse exteriors with a garden and a greenhouse
  • House interiors can be found within barn areas including a kitchen space, sitting and dining room areas
  • Friendly animals including pigs, sheep, rabbits, chickens, ducks, peacocks, guinea pigs and a mule
  • Vintage caravans, tractors, a Land Rover and recycled farm materials throughout
  • Eco features include an eco shop on site and solar-powered mobile batteries

facilities at the location

Warm, covered crew bases are available on site, including a static caravan that can also be used for wardrobe and make-up and a comfortable large shack with sofas, dining table and fridge. Portaloos and kitchen facilities are also available on site.

Parking is available on within a large parking area on the edge of farmyard, and further parking is access directly from the road into a flat field.

getting to motley farm

1 hr 15 minutes drive from Central London.

Headcorn is the closest railway station (10 minutes drive), which is less than an hour train ride from London. Alternatively, catch the high-speed train to Ashford International, and Motley Farm is a 20-minute taxi ride from there.