The Reclaimers: Made in Suffolk

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has commissioned The Reclaimers: Made in Suffolk, a five part series from Rare TV that will air on More4. The series follows a family run business based at Tinkers Barn, a salvage yard set in the Suffolk countryside, where once loved items are given a new purpose through rescue, restoration and repurposing.

At the centre of the series is the Warnes family across three generations. Andy runs the business alongside his wife and business partner Hayley, who focuses on design and detail to transform forgotten finds into desirable pieces. Their son Jonah has grown up around the trade and is learning the work firsthand, while Andy’s father, known as Pops, a master craftsman with decades of experience, appears later in the series to bring additional expertise.

Each episode follows the family as they search for items to salvage, taking on materials and objects from old buildings and demolition sites. They work across locations such as castles, schools and hospitals, recovering everything from bricks and mortar to worn household and garden furnishings. The aim is to find use in discarded items and return them to circulation through restoration and resale.

The business operates on tight margins, with every purchase needing to be recouped through resale, reflecting the financial pressures of running a small family enterprise. The cameras follow the Warnes throughout their work, showing the day to day running of the business as they expand and diversify income while operating within Britain’s challenged economy.