The Peaton Hill Community Nature Reserve was initially launched in 2004. The concept of a MOD Community Nature Reserve was developed during an annual MOD Biodiversity event which saw high ranking personnel from a variety of agencies, all with a vested interest in conservation, contribute their time and effort to producing the framework of a local community nature resrve.

The event was particularly successful, and both MOD and the Scottish Government's natural environment advisors recognised the benefits of developing the site and a start up grant was awarded for the project. From here the Peaton Nature Reserve was born.