Thanks for your reply, if it is just age, it's strange that it's been reduced to what it is now, in just a couple of years, but I will try to take some cuttings.
I always make sure it never overhangs the fence and the back of it is about 18 inches from the fence; I reduce the height after the first flowering as recommended. As for the shade, they always put a gazebo on the other side of it in the summer, so the worst it does is cast a shadow on that as the sun sets. Compared to the mess I have to clear up every day after their cats use my garden, and the constant fly tipping of their rubbish in a lane at the end of my garden, I don't think they have too much to complain about. It is also the fact that they never speak to me about it, but just take chunks off it usually when I go out that is upsetting and puts me off going out when I know they are home.
The other factor that could have affected the shrub it is that the same neighbours have a huge paddling pool which they empty every couple of days towards the fence so it comes under and floods into my garden so from what I've been reading recently I wonder if that has caused root rot?
I agree with taking a batch of cuttings and rejuvenation pruning. I can't see the base of the shrub clearly but I think I would take out a few of the oldest/thickest branches down to the ground, then repeat each year. I have a similar one, but I keep it small (about a 3 to 4 feet tall) by taking out 1/3 of the branches (evenly, not all from one side) every year after it's finished flowering. It's probably about 15 or 20 years old now. Here it is today, not quite in flower yet (that's self-sown honesty coming up through it).
Thank you, some of the older thicker branches are the ones that are dead now so they will be coming out. I'll wait until the flowers that are there have gone and have a good go at it. I am just so sad to be losing the birds and bees which love it.
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I always make sure it never overhangs the fence and the back of it is about 18 inches from the fence; I reduce the height after the first flowering as recommended. As for the shade, they always put a gazebo on the other side of it in the summer, so the worst it does is cast a shadow on that as the sun sets. Compared to the mess I have to clear up every day after their cats use my garden, and the constant fly tipping of their rubbish in a lane at the end of my garden, I don't think they have too much to complain about. It is also the fact that they never speak to me about it, but just take chunks off it usually when I go out that is upsetting and puts me off going out when I know they are home.
The other factor that could have affected the shrub it is that the same neighbours have a huge paddling pool which they empty every couple of days towards the fence so it comes under and floods into my garden so from what I've been reading recently I wonder if that has caused root rot?