[Chivetalkin]

There's quite a bit of grassy area in my allotment. I struggle to keep it tidy. I end up strimming it but that's a bit of a faff and the strimmer isn't great. I thought about getting a couple of rabbits or guinea pigs in a run and moving them around the grassy areas. we are allowed to keep rabbits on our plots, however I wouldn't want to leave them there and would bring them home at night. I think a peripatetic pygmy goat would be nice to share...but seriously, has anyone else tried small furry mammals or chickens to level the pathways?

[Aidy]

Personally speaking my chooks probably wouldnt help in anyway. To me rabbits etc sound like a load more faff as you put it, I use my strimmer on the grass path I have.
Each to their own as they say

[AnneB]

We have tried wood chip but have gone back to just strimming a grass path as an easier option.  Even though we have a local source of free wood chip, it is a hassle topping it up and weeds take root from the plot next door.
We bought a cheap battery operated strimmer (a Worx one) that does the job very effectively.

[mumofstig]

Mine is a Worx, as well,  and I bought an extra battery so I can do the whole plot in 1 go

[jezza]

Hello desnt the allotment tenants have a machinery pool that has a strimmer and organise a rota so that some one always keeps the paths cut,   jezza

[AnneB]

Hello desnt the allotment tenants have a machinery pool that has a strimmer and organise a rota so that some one always keeps the paths cut,   jezza

I think Chivetalkin is referring to the paths on their plot, rather than the paths on communal areas.

Our Association has a rota where the committee and 1 or 2 others share mowing the communal paths with a shared mower.   We used to have hedgetrimmers, strimmers, a rotovator, chain saw etc that we hired out for a small fee to cover petrol and maintenance but sadly we found people did not look after the equipment as if it was their own and it was costing us a fortune in repair and replacement. 
It was also impossible to get people to book in advance.  Many is the time having spent several hours on site and about to head home that someone would expect you to hang around for another hour while they did their hedge.   So sadly we don't bother any more!!

[Yorkie]

I agree with Anne! 

We have petrol mowers that we lend out to association members (in non-Covid times, obviously), but we are not insured for the use by others of more risky powered tools such as strimmers.

As for the original question, I would first ask whether there is really a need for such an amount of area to be grassed? We have rules about % that must be under cultivated.

I had grass paths that eventually I covered with weed suppressant fabric, as it was mainly couch grass that kept growing into the beds themselves.  I found that my strimmer didn't do the job by about mid-summer, but battery technology has come on in leaps and bounds since then.

[Subversive_plot]

When the weather starts heating up, place black plastic sheeting over the areas where grass keeps growing.  Weigh down the edges (brick, etc.).

The heat under the plastic should kill the grass after a week or two.  Longer treatment may be needed for really stubborn grasses. After treatment, fold the plastic up until you need it again. Mulching with broadleaf leaves may deter re-emergence between treatments.

[bayleaf]

I've used a battery powered strimmer but it takes ages. Picked up a push mower and now takes ten minutes!!

[AnneB]

I've used a battery powered strimmer but it takes ages. Picked up a push mower and now takes ten minutes!!

Push mowers are very good for this but quite hard to find now.  I think battery powered tools have improved no end.  Our plot takes a few minutes only with ours too.

[Snowboar]

I use weed fabric then chippings ya have to change after a few year but can use as a mulch

[Welsh Merf]

I have a Stihl 2-stroke petrol strimmer. Takes no time at all. MUST wear decent ear defenders and goggles of course.