i think honeysuckle has a tendancy to do that . as it grows it actualy cuts its own light out lower down so puts more greenery at the top . both mine have done just that . i even cut one right back .

We have another one in a different part of the garden, but still facing the sameway etc and that's fine. No leaf drop at all to speak of.

Try food and water...see if it helps, maybe its drier there....

I think you maybe right, Pamg. It did the same last year and I piled fresh compost round the roots and gave it lots of water, eventually it recovered. As the same was happening this year I thought perhaps there was something else the matter. I'll let you know how I/it gets on. Thanks again you two.