flooded Plot With pictures 27 Feb 10

I would suggest a little detective work before you comit to raising beds across your whole allotment which is a huge task. Dig a test pit, a couple of feet square and see just what is under your plot. Is this really the true refelction of the water table, or is water being retained by a layer of clay etc. If water starts to seep away through your test pit it is a good indication that your problem is drainage, and a couple of soakaways may solve some of the problem. Pehaps then a couple of raised beds edged with breeze block would give you a year round plot, and the rest of the soild level could be built up with compost, soil improver, grit etc over a number of years.

If the issue is with the water table height I would expect it to be causing problems elsewhere in the local area and your water aurthority should already be aware of it so a call to them may also be a good idea.

I pulled out a buried dustbin that had been used as a sunken waterbutt and the clay level goes down to at least 4 foot. A lot of the plot has been left to compact.

As regards speaking to the Council. The plot was overgrown and unused when I took it on. I'll ask to see if they're offer a reduction in rent but I can't see it. It's a case of you get what you pay for. We had enough trouble with them when we asked them to remove the rubbish that had been dumped on there by prevoius plot holders. But they'll blame the weather or find some excuse !

The root of the problem is the heavy rain and snow we have had.
I think the beds need to be bigger, worked and bulked out with manure, compost and sand.
Then the water will drain away, but will take a hell of a lot of hard work. 

Other plots are sodden but not flooded.

If you have clay which is that thick then my thoughts are that drainage is your problem. The water runs into your plot and has nowhere to go. Do you have an association which can maybe put pressure on the council to put some ditches around the site? Not just near you but around other plots so less water ends up with you. Half a day with a mini digger can do wonders.

After that, improve and build the soil level as you can.