The River Trent flood plain at Alrewas highlights the ancient Ridge and Furrow ploughing method

One of the most recognisable features of the English historic landscape, particularly in the Midlands, is `ridge and furrow'. This gives pasture fields an undulating, corrugated appearance, and in most cases marks the remains of medieval strip fields that were once under the plough. See the link here

According to the English Place Name Society the name Alrewas means "Alluvial land growing with alder trees".Anglo Saxon Allor-waesse.

Hi Diggory

Many English place names have their roots from the Anglo Saxon times and give you a clue to what they were like. I was not aware of the origin of Alrewas but you can see how it got its name.

It is on one of the major English rivers, the Trent, and here is a picture nearby where the Trent is swollen with flood water.

In the photo above you can see that it would be an ideal place to clear the Forrest and the river would enrich the soil. It would be a fertile place!

I looked to see what the alder tree would be used for and found that it increases the fertility of the soil!

But on Wikipedia I found this reference!!....

Electric guitars, most notably the Fender Stratocaster and Fender Telecaster have been built with alder bodies since the 1950s. Alder is appreciated for its bright tone, and has been adopted by many electric guitar manufacturers.

Best wishes Peter