Not going to hijack the thread but was going to ask the very same question so save me posting a similar thread.
We've been digging our allotment but find the grass just keeps coming back. I don't want to use weedkiller. One of the other allotment holders suggested yesterday that we skim off the top layer of grass then dig over.
I take it Matt's in Bristol (by his nic). I'm just 35 miles up the road and have the same type of soil. I know brassicas love it so looking forward to my favourite veg later in the year (cauliflower & broccoli Mornay - yum).
Our council is getting a bit stroppy and in their newsletter (got it last week along with the rent bill - they haven't put the rent up for this year), they're saying they want all the new allotments to be 2/3rds cultivated and things growing in them within 3 months of signing for the allotment or get evicted. Given the state of the allotments - I took over the first one in September last year, the grass was taller than me - over 5ft and it hadn't been cultivated for donkeys years.
My second allotment I only signed for Christmas week. It's quite interesting as I've discovered the previous tenant had put down a lot of weed mat and old carpet, which, of course has now been covered by lots of grass. Growing among the grass are some very nice strawberry plants and some raspberry canes. Already partly unearthed an obviously very good quality net - just need to find where the rest of it goes as once it's dug up I can use it again.
Found a plastic type tarpaulin covering a mound. Pulled the tarp away and discovered the biggest ants nest I've ever seen. it was 2ft high by about 3ft in diameter. The poor ants were desperately trying to save their eggs. I did feel a bit sorry for them (black ants) but the nest seemed to be comprised of really good soil, very fine so the ants had done a good job of breaking down the clay soil there.
I have contemplated rotovating Plot No.1 and my boss can get me a weekend deal at a very reasonable cost with the rotovator delivered and collected but I'm also worried about chopping up the weed roots and ending up with more weeds/grass than I have now.
Did buy an Azada from Get Digging.com and that really is a great digging tool. Got the heavy duty one. It's too heavy for me but my son works it. One of our allotment neighbours showed him how to use it properly.