More than 20 volunteers gathered with Keep Suffolk Beautiful to plant native trees at Planters Park off Carolina Road on Nov. 10.

A grant from Trees Forever allowed the group to plant 10 willow oaks, five swamp white oaks and five elm trees.

Many of the volunteers that came to the event wanted to help give back to the community and to the environment.

“We obviously are destroying the environment, and so putting back is good,” said horticulturist Byron Carmean. “Anytime you plant a tree, you are planting it for your children and your grandchildren.”

Litter Control Coordinator and spokesman for Keep Suffolk Beautiful, Wayne Jones, wanted to put trees at Planters Park, because the park needs shade for the summer time.

“A lot of these parks don’t have shade for the kids in the summer time,” Carmean said.

The trees were spread around the track and around the playground, and people were in groups of three and four to get the job done quickly.

“With all the concreate jungles we are adding, we need to make twice as many green spaces,” Master Naturalist member Sandra Holloway said.

For Holloway, being able to volunteer with Keep Suffolk Beautiful has taught her more about the city where she lives.

“Volunteering gives me something to do, and I’ve always like being outdoors,” Holloway said. “It allowed me to learn about the city. I know more about so many parks now.”

City Councilman Tim Johnson made his way over to help with planting the trees.

“This truly does make the parks better,” Johnson said.

The trees will take 10 to 20 years to be fully grown, but when they start to grow, they will provide shade to those who want to enjoy Planters Park.

“This is wonderful. It provides for a better environment, and it’s a chance to have the community come together,” said Nansemond River Preservation Alliance President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Elizabeth Taraski.

This is not the first time Keep Suffolk Beautiful has planted trees with a large crowd. The last time they planted trees was last December, and Michael Kelly, Parks and Recreation planner, said they had just as many volunteers.

“A lot of people love seeing more trees being planted,” Kelly said.