Asif, nice to hear from you.
Seed can be in soil if there is sometimes only a little compost on top. Or in compost if there is more of that on top.
Its like the only “rule” is not to mix soil & compost unnecessarily, or disturb soil more than you need to, in other words the opposite of what your allotment neighbours recommend!
I find on clay that doing what you wonder – a little compost/organic matter/manure whatever it is, on top of the path surface, will encourage worms and other life to improve drainage. It just won’t happen overnight. But see this FB link from Laurenne Hopkins on my Facebook page , its December 29th and the dug allotment is waterlogged, her undug one is fine.
When planting, put them in deep so the existing compost supports their stems. Its no problem if roots are in soil or compost!
