Rooted in Resilience: The Story Behind Alaria

Our wee cherry tree named Alaria, standing proud against the backdrop of Glengavel Reservoir

When we first named Alaria, it wasn’t after a company or a grand vision – it was after a tree. A cherry tree, planted back in 2009, during one of life’s toughest chapters. Eight months pregnant, with two young children and the weight of impending single motherhood, I (Heather) dug into the earth and placed that sapling into the soil. My partner had left, and the path ahead was uncertain, but in that moment I wasn’t planting just a tree – I was planting hope.

She became more than just a cherry tree. She was a quiet, living reminder that even in the messiness of life, something beautiful can take root and flourish. Over the years, Alaria grew alongside my children, weathering storms, basking in sunlight, and standing tall through the changing seasons. She became a symbol of resilience, of feminine strength, and of the quiet but powerful belief that new beginnings are always possible.

When Cheryl and I founded Alaria CIC, it was with the same spirit. We are women who have walked through fire and come out stronger, who have faced adversity and found ways to not just survive but to thrive. Together, we trained, studied, and built skills that could make a real difference in the world – not by fixing people, but by walking alongside them, creating spaces where growth is nurtured and where nature offers its quiet but powerful support.

At Alaria CIC, we believe deeply in the grounding force of nature. Whether it’s through outdoor play therapy, therapeutic groups among the trees, or simply sitting beside animals who accept you just as you are, we have seen again and again how the natural world can hold and steady people through life’s challenges. It doesn’t judge, it doesn’t rush – it allows for breathing space, for reflection, for strength to be reclaimed.

Our work is rooted in lived experience. We don’t come to this work from a distance; we come with open hearts, muddy boots, and hands that have known both struggle and joy. We come as women who have felt lost and found ourselves again through connection – connection to ourselves, to each other, and to the natural world around us.

Alaria isn’t just a name. She is our reminder that even in the darkest seasons, there is potential for blossom. She tells the story of courage, of tenacity, and of the incredible strength within women to create change – in their own lives and in the lives of others.

And just like the cherry tree that stands tall and strong, Alaria CIC is here to stand alongside our community, offering spaces of connection, encouragement, and renewal.