What's eating my clematis 'the president'?

Clematis 'The President' is a vigorous large-flowered cultivar most troubled by aphids colonising soft spring shoots. Slugs and snails target new growth at the base, while earwigs can damage the large, showy blooms at night. Keeping the crown covered with grit reduces slug access significantly.

Clusters on shoot tips causing distortion and sticky honeydew; sooty mould may follow Squash by hand, spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, encourage beneficial insects

Holes and slime trails on young leaves and stems at ground level, worst in wet weather Iron phosphate slug pellets, gritty mulch around the crown, hand-pick at night

Ragged notches in petals and upper leaves, feeding occurring overnight Straw-stuffed trap pots on canes near the plant; remove and destroy earwigs each morning