A month of pandemic lockdown in East London – In Pictures

Local professional photographer Vickie Flores has been kind enough to share some of the many photographs she has been taking during the last month to cheer us all up during the grim days. You will have seen Vickie’s photographs before in the Financial Times, Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail and many more national and international publications.

We hope you enjoy her photographs as much as we have.

Whether you’re a key worker, self isolating, working from home, doing your best to home school, or just generally trying to make the best of it, April 2020 has been a difficult time for all of us as the coronavirus outbreak continues.

The Wapping Mole has invited me to write a guest post for the new East End Enquirer website, so I’ve decided to share some of my favourite uplifting moments during what feels like a very long month here in Wapping.

Wapping Wildlife

The spring wildlife in Wapping is always a delight and one of my favourite things to photograph locally, but this year has been a real treat as we’ve seen the fluffiest ducklings along with the cutest coots and swan cygnets hatch on the canal.

A newly born duckling runs across the water on the Wapping canal — A newly born duckling scoots across the water on the Wapping canal

A newly born Wapping duckling is reflected in the water during early morning sunshine

A group of Wapping ducklings swimming on the canal

Mother coot keeps her chicks warm on a nest in Wapping

Mother coot feeds one of her chicks on a nest in Wapping

A young coot chick chirps on its nest in Wapping

A swan and its cygnet swim on the canal in Wapping

Swan cygnets hitch a ride on mothers back

A swan cygnet rides on its mothers back as she swims on the canal in Wapping

Father Egyptian goose practices his poses at Shadwell Basin

An Egyptian goose gosling copies father gooses poses

Daily Life in Wapping

The east end community spirit in E1W is as strong as ever and alongside a number of official and local support groups, many residents are helping their vulnerable friends and neighbours with shopping and errands.

Local resident John and his dog Millie delivering shopping for vulnerable residents

Local resident John's dog dog Millie waits patiently in his tricycle basket whilst he shops for vulnerable residents — John’s dog dog Millie waits patiently in his tricycle basket whilst he shops for vulnerable residents

Wapping resident, Abigale seen in her stylish home made mask in the Rose Gardens — Wapping resident, Abigail seen in her stylish home made mask in the Rose Gardens

Landmarks Turn Blue

Landmarks across the country have been beautifully lit up in blue every Thursday evening to show support and appreciation for healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tower Bridge and the London shard seen from Wapping are illuminated in blue

Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers pause to pay their respects at Hermitage Moorings — Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers pause to pay their respects in Wapping

The Tower of London projects a message of thanks to key workers

Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives projection onto the Tower of London

Clap for Carers

The weekly ‘Clap for our Carers’ at 8pm every Thursday takes place across the country to show appreciation for key-workers and NHS heroes working during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wapping resident Kimi (R) cheers on the Greenbank Estate on a Thursday evening

A Wapping resident pays her respects as she claps from her window on a Thursday evening

Wapping residents clap from their window on the Greenbank Estate on a Thursday evening

Clap for Carers at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel

The Royal London in Whitechapel is Wapping’s local hospital and at 8pm on Thursday evening, staff and their supporters can be seen taking a moment to say thank you to the NHS.

Medical staff clapping outside the Royal London Hospital

Paramedics join the clapping outside the Royal London Hospital

Firefighters clap for carers outside the Royal London Hospital

Police officers clap for carers outside the Royal London Hospital

Medical staff clap for carers outside the Royal London Hospital

A nurse joins 'clap for carers' outside the Royal London Hospital — A nurse joins ‘clap for carers’ outside the Royal London Hospital

Stay Safe and Thank you

Many thanks to the East End Enquirer for letting me share some uplifting pictures from Wapping during April 2020.

Please feel free to leave me a comment below, or you can find me on Twitter @vickieflores or Instagram @vickiefloresphoto if you have any suggestions for the next picture post.