Flexi Says: Creep is the very slow movement of rock and soil down a hillside. Creep occurs so slowly you can’t see it happening. You can only see the effects of creep after years of movement. The slowly moving ground causes trees, fence posts, and other structures on the surface to tilt downhill. As a hillside moves down the slope, trees try to stand up straight. Over time the trees end up with bent trunks.