So, I have what might be a completely new question for the Board on the approach to clearing an allotment. I've been tending my current plot (a full plot, heavy soil) for two years now and recently scored the adjacant plot. This adjacent plot is the last plot on the allotment, right by the fence etc and has never been used as an allotment before. In fact it has been left to disintegrate over the last two years (looking on Google Earth it seems it was just overgrown/ unused before that). Consequently it was completely covered in knee-high grass (couch grass I suspect) and about 3/4 covered in very thick, man-high brambles.
As I have a fully working plot already I have plenty of time to get the new plot into shape, and the luxury of allowing it to be somewhat less productive in return for it being more attractive and useful. In particular, I'd like a bit of space on it to put up a picknick bench I've lucked into, and also some space for my kids to play etc. Over the last week I've cut all the grass and brambles down, and I'll strimm it further it to get it very short indeed.
So, my question: My current plot I had completely covered in cardboard and matting for nearly a year to get it ready, and that was very effective though it's hard to get that much cardboard together and not all together maintenance free. As I don't need to rush with the new plot, what if I strimm it sufficiently that I can get my lawnmower over it regularly. I hear just mowing regularly helps weaken the weeds, and perhaps it will be nice enough that I can use it for the kids while I start to cultivate it little by little, rather than cardboard/ weed matting the whole thing? If that isn't enough, do you think that approach, plus broadcasting a lot of grass seed will get me there?
My concern is that I'll be mowing every week, but still only have a plot with short, scrubby nettles/ thistles/ brambles and so it's effectively useless for the kids; rather than investing the effort up front and carboarding the whole thing over.