The fading light of dusk cast a myriad of shadows across the surface of the wildlife ponds and the golden autumn leaves of nearby trees reflected in the water.

Behind their towering branches a low winter full moon appeared in the sky and a buzzard hovered high above the shrub land searching for food.

It was late in the day but a lone purple thistle bloomed on, defying the ground frost which chilled our feet as we walked along the pathway to the wildlife park and newt reserve at Brookhill, Buckley.

It was a scene pleasantly familiar to Chris Cotton, whose interest in wildlife developed as a child. As a teenager he volunteered to work with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, the biggest practical conservation charity in Britain. And today Chris is delighted that his full time job with Buckley company AD Waste has given him the chance to continue his passion for wildlife, helping to supervise a valued nature reserve and protect one of the world's most ancient creatures.

"We won't see any of them today – it's time for their big sleep," he said talking animatedly about the great crested newts which are now happily settled at the reserve in Buckley.

It was established when AD Waste began its landfill operation at the town's Brookhill waste disposal site. A condition of the planning consent given by Flintshire County Council was that the newts which were inhabiting the then proposed waste site would have to be provided with a new safeguarded habitat. And so the Brookhill newt population 'moved home'.

They were carefully transferred to a specially established mitigation site of 20 pools off Liverpool Road, Buckley. This reserve, though primarily set up for the displaced newts of Brookhill in 1997 and celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has proved a resounding success, attracting all manner of wildlife from dragonflies and butterflies to reeds and bulrushes, small mammals, birds, flora and fauna, all native to the local area.

There is now a secure bird hide on site for parties of school pupils and other environmental studies groups, along with a detailed information board and a small timber landing stage over one of the ponds so children can see the newts more easily in the active spring and summer seasons.

Chris, 28, who lives with partner Toni and eight year old daughter, Bethany, has worked for two-and-a-half years as assistant supervisor at AD Waste's Greenfield Recycling Facility.

In addition to that role, he has now also been appointed a licence holder at the wildlife reserve in Buckley, helping AD Waste fill its obligation to help manage the site in partnership with Flintshire County Council, the Countryside Council for Wales, Forestry Commission, North East Wales Wildlife group and local community and environmental protection groups.

Chris is called to the reserve whenever industrial projects, land clearance or work involving the use of heavy machinery is scheduled in the surrounding area.

"I am here on behalf of AD Waste to make sure the wildlife isn't disturbed and any machinery used does not adversely affect the nature of the habitat," he said.

Chris is a committed wildlife enthusiast and took part in September 2007's Big D Day – the biggest community volunteer clean up ever of the Dee estuary, supported by botanist David Bellamy.

"I have been interested in the environment since I was young and was volunteering with the BCTV when I was 15," said Chris who visits the newt reserve regularly, sometimes in his spare time, as well in an official work capacity.

He said: "It is a remarkable site and a real wildlife haven, although with working over in Greenfield and being a dad now I don't get to come over as often as I'd like just to sit quietly and take it all in. I've been here when school groups have visited sometimes and the children just love it. They benefit so much from being able to see and study wildlife in its natural state."

He praised the team from North East Wales Wildlife, which was asked to manage the mitigation sites, and has built up an expertise in amphibian conservation.

Great crested newts date back to the end of the dinosaur age and are now one of only three amphibians protected by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. They are also listed as in need of protection by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

They are named because of a jagged crest running along their backs which dips to a smoother edged crest at the tail area. A grey brown to black colour, they also have darker coloured spots, a silver streak and yellow or orange under-sides.

"They are usually quite small, but I have seen some as long as the length of my hand from the fingertips to the wrist," said Chris, who has helped with night-time 'trapping' exercises to keep tabs on the size and health of the population.

The newts are most active at night, remaining deep in the pond or resting in vegetation for most of the day.

"They are caught in special containers around the edge of the pond and details such as measurements and numbers are taken before they are released back into the safety of the ponds," he said.

Adult newts have been recorded that are up to 15-years-old and often return to the same breeding site, but many of these sites around Britain have been swallowed up by development over the years. None remain in Cornwall, Devon, parts of Wales and Scotland, which is why reserves like the one in Buckley are increasingly important. The fewer sites there are the more danger that the newts will be lost forever.