Duck Pond Market returned to Richmond this weekend - and we went to meet the traders.

Ten foodie stalls set up in Heron Square on 'Super' Saturday, July 4.

Sunday saw a dozen Artisan-themed stalls selling an array of items including vintage clothing, eco-friendly soap, South African biltong, Greek wraps, prints, paintings, specialist items for babies and dogs and, the must-have item of the moment, handmade face masks.

Richmond Nub News spoke to traders and Duck Pond Market manager Kelly McEntee on the market's grand return after months of coronavirus-enforced lockdown.

Watch our 24-minute tour above, and you can read transcripts of our interviews below.

Thalia Jemmett Skinner, start and 22 minutes 30 seconds into video

Greeting visitors was 18-year-old Thalia for whom the pandemic put paid to her plans of finding a summer job before starting university.

Fortunately, she's able to call on her musical talents. So she brought her guitar along to the market and busked in the sunshine at the entrance from Bridge Street.

This was the only way to enter the market, which is operating a one-way system during Covid-19 with guests making their way around clockwise.

SarahMade

Face masks have been a top seller for craftswoman Sarah Ramsbottom.

So much so that she can barely find a moment to take a break!

"Every time I sit down, I'm up again," she said. "It's made all my making this week worthwhile.

"Also, I've been able to use up all of my remnants. I won't throw anything away. It only goes to landfill and I don't like that."

One Step Eco Shop, 2 minutes 15 seconds in

Owner Gwen Clerc said it was "really good" to be back trading. She brought a large selection of items to the market and also sells via her website.

"The market is not just about selling right now. It's also about meeting people locally, making them aware we are here. I do deliveries so hopefully we'll get a few more of those," she said.

"It's an eco shop so it's all about making things without plastics and toxic products," she added of her range.

"It's going back to old fashioned ways by using bicarbonate, citric acid, vinegar. There's plastic-free cleaning solutions, bamboo toothbrushes, powder toothpaste, shamboo bars and deodorants." And much more.

The market's manager Kelly McEntee, 5 minutes in

"It's lovely to be back," Ms McEntee said. "Traders are social-distancing and doing all the things we've asked of them. The customers who have arrived have been wonderful, we've had such positive feedback and with the weather being amazing it's felt like a really lovely day.

"We implemented the one-way system. And in the main, everybody's following it and it's nice to see people protecting everybody else. Some people are wearing masks, some people are not, but there's a good spirit among people.

"It's Artisan and food today. We've had to slim it down a little bit, and we've got a number of traders who are isolating and a number who are in other countries and it's been nice to have a bit of a trial run and ease back into it.

"All of our traders are local producers, they make [their goods] in small batches and put real love into everything they do."

Harvest Vintage Clothing, 8 min 20 secs

Sadie Myers was the second member of her family at the market today - as she is the mother of acoustic guitarist Thalia.

"It's curated designer, vintage and second hand clothing, accessories and shoes," she said. "We started up just before lockdown actually. I only did about two or three markets, which went incredibly well, and then lockdown happened. So we're just really trying to get up and going, get up and running again."

Limpopo Biltong, 11 mins

Church Street in Twickenham's much loved shop had a presence at the Duck Pond Market.

Dave said: "It's good to see real people out and about. Everyone's happier." Trade has been "very good, and yesterday too".

Fun Animal Art, 14 mins 15 seconds

"There's a lot of people from Richmond and the surrounding areas who want to come out and support little businesses," said Tim. "This is actually my wife Viviana Posso's business and I'm helping her with it today.

"She works with other artists and buys from them. There's about 20 different artists that we have got on show today.

"It's quirky, hand-painted, put-a-smile-on-your-face pictures which I think at the moment we need more than ever."

Love From Betty, 15 mins 40 seconds

This pooch boutique, named after Kat's 96-year-old animal-loving grandma, was returning to the Duck Pond Market for the first time since March.

The shop sells a creative range of products for your pet, using materials such as recycled water bottles, and dog-themed gifts for their owners. Popular items include pawfetti, canine ketchup, doggy birthday cake mix and bedtime biscuits, while dog pyjamas are one of its website's best sellers.

Pureté Provence, 18 mins 20 seconds

A soap range that is ideal for this current age of incessant hand washing. As owner Tony Daggar-Nickson said: "We sell French soap that is made for us by the last traditional soap maker in Marseille - it's all handmade in big cauldrons. The soap is ideal for people with dry skin, eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis, as they have no sulphate or parabens and animal fats.

"So you can wash your hands as many times as you like... The oil content is so high, you never get dry skin."

Fairly Amy, 20 mins 50 seconds

Its owner of the same name said: "I mostly make felt goods for babies and children.

"The baby mobiles are my main [seller] and the felt fancy dress masks and name banners. I do lots of personalised designs.

"There's been a steady stream of people, and lots of very nicely distanced lookers."

You can find her items on her Etsy page or catch Amy at next weekend's Duck Pond Market.

Alex Saberi

National Geographic photographer Alex was also at the market.

He recently launched a new website selling high quality prints, posters and canvasses of Richmond Park and Riverside.

The park is "where my photographic journey all started and how I became a Nat Geo photographer", he said.

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