slugs snails , is it more the lower branches effected ?

Yeah, Gnarly lower to middle mostly affected, but I do get up early to see if there are any pests around, but alas I can't see any. Unless they can scarper quicker than I can walk the length of my garden I'm at a loss.

Snails are brilliant tree climbers so it could well be them.

Both snails and caterpillars work at night--between, 10:00 pm and 4:00 am, usually--and hide well during the day, the snails under leaves, sticks and stones, and the caterpillars on the undersides of leaves that aren't chewed (sneaky critters!) The best way to find out is to come out late at night with a flashlight, and catch them in the act.

good thing is you will have new leaves in the spring